subtle

adjective

sub·​tle ˈsə-tᵊl 

subtler

ˈsət-lər,

ˈsə-tᵊl-ər  ; subtlest

ˈsət-ləst,

ˈsə-tᵊl-əst 

1

a

: delicate, elusive

a subtle fragrance

His eyes had a peculiar, subtle ray in them—not a gleam.

—Theodore Dreiser

The peppers also have a pleasant hint of sweetness, which gives dishes featuring them a subtle richness.

—Kim Marcus

… flowering kale is the chic caterer's dream, its subtle hues and fluffy forms ideal for filling out table displays …

—Elizabeth Schneider

b

: difficult to understand or perceive : obscure sense 1c

a subtle truth

a subtle change

subtle differences in sound

The drafters of the bill had made a subtle but important error …

—Jonathan Mahler

Unlike wolves, who seem in some subtle way to choose their prey for pursuit, cougars wait in hiding to make a short rush at any animal that happens by.

—Chris Bolgiano

Many grammarians have made subtle distinctions between these two words …

—Charles Einstein

c

: clever and indirect : disguised in purpose

She turned to me and began asking questions, ignoring my subtle hints that I was busy.

—Clay Smith

The negative labels [given to young people] are not-so-subtle propaganda.

—David Lipsky et al.

2

: having or involving keen perception or insight

a subtle scholar

the writer's subtle ear for dialogue

a subtle understanding of human nature

The success of many of the new vegetarian dishes depends on the heightened culinary intelligence, subtle sense of taste, and well-honed cooking skills that the current generation of hobby chefs has developed over the past decade.

—Jinx Morgan

3

a

: highly skillful : expert

a subtle craftsman

The discoveries do not mean that hackers have a free ride into a Web developer's system … . Even in the case of the most serious flaw, it would take a subtle hacker to exploit it …

—Jeremy Carl

b

: cunningly made or contrived : ingenious

… a remarkably subtle portrayal of a nation overtaken by an Orwellian nightmare.

—Joan Podhoretz

4

: artful, crafty

This little knot of subtle schemers will control the convention, and, through it, dictate to the party.

—Nathaniel Hawthorne

… they will all imagine you are engaged in a subtle plan … to cheat them.

—Dennis Joseph Enright

5

: operating insidiously

subtle poisons

Ah, shallow as it is, yet, how subtle a thing is suspicion, which at times can invade the humanest of hearts and wisest of heads.

—Herman Melville

subtleness

ˈsə-tᵊl-nəs 

noun

subtly

ˈsət-lē

ˈsə-tᵊl-(l)ē 

adverb

Did you know?

Why is there a "b" in subtle?

If you know this word by sight, you might not know how to say it. And if you know it in conversation you might not know how to spell it.

For those of you in the first camp, we'll give you a hint: that "b" is subtle. So subtle, in fact, as to not be heard at all. It's a silent "b," like the "b" in thumb and debt. The word actually rhymes with shuttle.

And for those in the second camp: this is the word that sounds like it should be spelled "suttle."

So what is that pesky "b" doing there anyway? Is that sub at the beginning of the word related to the sub in submarine and subterranean?

Yes, it is. Subtle comes ultimately from a Latin pair: the prefix sub-, meaning "under," and tela, meaning "web." The two were joined in Latin subtilis, meaning "finely woven." The word was literal; it was originally a weaving term. But over time subtilis developed figurative uses, and was applied in many cases in which the word fine would work as well: to describe details, distinctions, and tastes, among other things.

When subtle came to first be used in Middle English its meaning was very much in this same lineage. It meant "perceptive, refined," and was used to describe people known for their clear thinking—such as philosophers—and things, such as analysis or reasoning, that demonstrated such thinking.

One more thing about the spelling of subtle: like many words that have been in the language for centuries, this one took numerous forms before settling into its current spelling. Many of the forms didn't include the "b" at all—and it's believed that the "b" was probably never pronounced in English. The "b" spellings that were used were a nod to the Latin subtilis. And much to the chagrin of those in favor of phonetic spellings today, one of them came out on top.

Synonyms

• artful
• beguiling
• cagey
• cagy
• crafty
• cunning
• cute
• designing
• devious
• dodgy [chiefly British]
• foxy
• guileful
• scheming
• shrewd
• slick
• sly
• tricky
• wily

Examples of subtle in a Sentence

Although artists and patrons in Venice still sought images of ideal figures, they insisted that this imagery be rooted in a more subtle and insightful interpretation of human life and character. —Andrew Butterfield, New York Review of Books, 16 July 2009

These days, some of the most exciting cooking with brown rice is taking place in Japan, where purveyors are beginning to embrace the subtle variations that can be achieved through custom-milling and cooks are repurposing traditional techniques and dishes to accommodate the food's flavors and textures. —Karen Shimizu, Saveur, May 2008

The language of the face communicates maximum information through the subtlest inflections. The interfaces of our souls are designed to be read in a heartbeat. —Steve Silberman, Wired, May 2003

a subtle difference in meaning between the words

Racial discrimination still exists, only now it's subtler than it once was.

When it comes to giving criticism, sometimes it's best to take a subtle approach.

He didn't seem to understand my subtle hints.

It was her subtle way of telling me to mind my own business.

She has a subtle mind.

Recent Examples on the Web

The palate has a mix of caramel, cinnamon sugar, and subtle spice, which offers a rich, layered experience. —Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 14 Dec. 2024

The Cognac is complex, featuring plum, fig, and licorice notes, a rich, spicy finish, and subtle vanilla undertones. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024

But Nickel Boys’ subtle choice is to discard this method on occasion. —K. Austin Collins, The Atlantic, 13 Dec. 2024

Scoop Jacquard Tie-Back Mini Swing Dress The subtle sheen on this A-line dress comes not from sequins but from silvery metallic stitching. —Miles Walls, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sotil, subtile, from Anglo-French, from Latin subtilis, literally, finely textured, from sub- + tela cloth on a loom; akin to Latin texere to weave — more at technical

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Kids Definition

subtle

adjective

sub·​tle ˈsət-ᵊl 

subtler ˈsət-lər 

-ᵊl-ər

; subtlest ˈsət-ləst 

-ᵊl-əst

1

a

: delicate sense 1, elusive

a subtle fragrance

b

: difficult to understand or distinguish

subtle differences in vowel sounds

2

: marked by a keen ability to understand

a subtle mind

3

: sly sense 1a, crafty

subtle flattery

4

: working slowly but effectively

a subtle poison

subtleness

ˈsət-ᵊl-nəs 

noun

subtly

ˈsət-lē 

ˈsət-ᵊl-(l)ē

adverb

Etymology

Middle English sotil, subtile "delicate," from early French sotil (same meaning), from Latin subtilis "delicate," literally, "finely woven," from sub "under, close to" and tela "fabric woven on a loom"