subtlety
noun
sub·tle·ty
ˈsə-tᵊl-tē 
plural subtleties
1
: the quality or state of being subtle
2
: something subtle
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
His name is Angel, and such is the level of subtlety the film settles for.
—
Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Dec. 2025
Some were as sleek as a stiletto, while others had all the brutal subtlety of a thirty-pound sledgehammer.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 10 Dec. 2025
As with most of the other metaphors on this list, there’s not much subtlety here.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
For those unfamiliar with large international sporting events, like the World Cup, combine the moronic passion of a major college football game with the subtlety of a drunk panther with the judgment of a mother on her daughter’s wedding day.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtlety
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Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Dec. 2025
Some were as sleek as a stiletto, while others had all the brutal subtlety of a thirty-pound sledgehammer.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 10 Dec. 2025
As with most of the other metaphors on this list, there’s not much subtlety here.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
For those unfamiliar with large international sporting events, like the World Cup, combine the moronic passion of a major college football game with the subtlety of a drunk panther with the judgment of a mother on her daughter’s wedding day.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtlety
Cite this Entry
“Subtlety.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subtlety. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
subtlety
noun
sub·tle·ty
ˈsət-ᵊl-tē
plural subtleties
1
: the quality or state of being subtle
2
: something subtle
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