nuanced

adjective

nu·​anced ˈnü-ˌän(t)st 

ˈnyü-;

nü-ˈän(t)st, 

nyü-

: having nuances : having or characterized by subtle and often appealingly complex qualities, aspects, or distinctions (as in character or tone)

a nuanced performance

Whenever the movie focusses on Van Doren and Goodwin and Stempel, it treats them as nuanced human beings. But other characters in the film … are sketched less fully.

—Ken Auletta

And in this rare instance, the family-friendly franchise isn't a bland, pabulum compromise but a more inspired, nuanced alternative.

—Mike Flaherty

This more psychologically nuanced self-examination requires that we honestly challenge our beliefs and summon the courage to act on that information, which may lead to fresh ways of thinking about our lives and our goals.

—Camille Sweeney and Josh Gosfield

Synonyms of nuanced

• subtle
• delicate
• nice

Examples of nuanced in a Sentence

a nuanced, shaded representation of a hot-button issue that is too often depicted in black and white

a sauce with a nuanced lemon flavor that doesn't overwhelm the taste of the fish

Recent Examples on the Web

The characters who inhabit Gothel are rich and multifaceted and along with McMyne’s clever combination of magic and history, this makes for an incredibly nuanced and immersive read into Rapunzel’s origin story. — Literary Hub, 17 July 2026

Zeitzer notes that, like anything at the intersection of science and society, the situation is nuanced. — Claire Maldarelli, Scientific American, 17 July 2026

The production feels more grounded and more nuanced than that of The Secret of Us, whose rootsy foundation sometimes had a plastic sheen. — Molly Mary O’Brien, Pitchfork, 17 July 2026

Compared with watching television, online media was far more difficult to track and define, and more nuanced in its use. — Gabriel E. Hales, The Conversation, 17 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

nuance + -ed entry 1

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined above