1
as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
used subtle methods of persuasion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nice
made or done with extreme care and accuracy
the subtle strokes of the painter's brush
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in exquisite
satisfying or pleasing because of fineness or mildness
a subtle suggestion of the Near East in the soup's flavoring
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of subtle
Best Makeup & Hairstyling Photo: MUBI A Different Man
Emilia Pérez
Nosferatu
The Substance
Wicked
The Suicide Squad Memorial Oscar usually prioritizes high-drama looks over more subtle transformations.
—
Nate Jones, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
The model is also reportedly better at interpreting nuance like subtle cues or implicit expectations.
—Ece Yildirim, Quartz, 27 Feb. 2025
China reacted angrily Monday to new State Department wording that appeared to indicate a subtle shift in favor of Taipei.
—Christian Shepherd The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 18 Feb. 2025
This style can be easily individualized with soft braids, details creating a subtle crown effect.
—Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtle
Nate Jones, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
The model is also reportedly better at interpreting nuance like subtle cues or implicit expectations.
—Ece Yildirim, Quartz, 27 Feb. 2025
China reacted angrily Monday to new State Department wording that appeared to indicate a subtle shift in favor of Taipei.
—Christian Shepherd The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 18 Feb. 2025
This style can be easily individualized with soft braids, details creating a subtle crown effect.
—Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subtle
Adjective
-
Gilded by privilege and cunning, Glinda (Ariana Grande) is a popular young woman who desires to wield magic.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
2 Mar. 2025
-
Michael Douglas — Wall Street (1987) Gordon Gekko is a cunning and unscrupulous corporate predator who crystallized the Reagan-era ethos into three words.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Creating comedy in which the principal characters are involved in crime does require some balance — worse criminals to contrast with the nicer ones, or a deserving or faceless target, or, as here, no other option.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2025
-
The ability to use either an AA or AAA battery is a nice touch, giving you options for weight and battery life.—
Shubham Yewale,
PCMAG,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The Timeless Brilliance environment showcased exquisite diamond jewels from the collection of heritage gem and jewelry dealer Ernst Färber, which was founded in Munich in 1692.—
Kyle Roderick,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
-
The Red Room establishes an impressive, grand introduction to the store, and is gracefully merchandised with footwear on exquisite circular onyx tables.—
David Moin,
WWD,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
In December 2024, the brand opened a cute hut that could have been plucked out of a Disney cartoon on the beach of the St. Regis Kanai Resort in Riviera Maya.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
WWD,
9 Mar. 2025
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Okay, but how cute is Meghan’s dog, Guy? Love him!!!!—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Sleek Flats: The Feminine Finish For a soft, elegant touch, flat mules or strappy sandals are the perfect pairing with wide-leg pants, as these delicate styles contrast beautifully with oversized silhouettes, adding a hint of polish without overpowering.—
Ruhama Wolle,
Glamour,
5 Mar. 2025
-
The sweater, which retails for around $1,325, featured a delicate design with short sleeves and a rounded neckline.—
WWD Staff,
WWD,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Grande’s elegant look this evening stayed true to the spirit of her red-carpet style this awards season.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2025
-
This elegant, spare picture doesn’t hammer away at its message.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
TIME,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Watch out for slippery roads: The initial half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mixture of rain, grime, and oil.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Orange County Register,
13 Mar. 2025
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Watch out for slippery roads: The first half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mix of rain, grime, and oil.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
The Mercury News,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
But Daniel doesn’t draw from these fine actors the scale of performance that Parks’ drama demands.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2025
-
New York first joined the guide in 2005, kicking off a new focus on fine dining in America.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subtle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subtle. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.
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