subtlety

noun

sub·​tle·​ty ˈsə-tᵊl-tē 

plural subtleties

1

: the quality or state of being subtle

2

: something subtle

Synonyms

• artfulness
• artifice
• caginess
• cageyness
• canniness
• craft
• craftiness
• cunning
• cunningness
• deviousness
• foxiness
• guile
• guilefulness
• slickness
• slyness
• sneakiness
• subtleness
• wiliness

Examples of subtlety in a Sentence

The pianist performed with subtlety and passion.

we appreciated the subtlety with which our host indicated that it was time to leave: he volunteered to pack us a little lunch for the road

Recent Examples on the Web

But this absence of subtlety is barely a criticism, because what is on display here, whether on land or at sea, marked by bloom or doom, is a gorgeous, gripping pleasure. —Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024

Some of that continuity is thanks to the ever-present yearning in Martin’s voice, some to the big chords and cathedral choruses, some to the lyrics that have ambiguity without a shred of subtlety. —Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2024

Kiran explained that subtlety is central to her filmmaking style. —Taarini Kaur Dang, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

Since an excess of subtlety might have led to the general underappreciation of something like Reservation Dogs, sometimes a little guiding hand-holding isn’t a bad thing. —Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sotilte, subtilte, from Anglo-French sotilté, from Latin subtilitat-, subtilitas, from subtilis

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

subtlety

noun

sub·​tle·​ty ˈsət-ᵊl-tē 

plural subtleties

1

: the quality or state of being subtle

2

: something subtle