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
And these subtleties, called micro- or meso-expressions, vary from one culture to the next, as well as among individuals within each culture.
—
Matt Fuchs, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
People would devote entire dissertations to developing techniques for distinguishing handwritten digits or for recognizing faces in images; then a deep-learning algorithm would digest the underlying data, discover the subtleties of the problem, and make those projects seem obsolete.
—James Somers, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
The subtlety, Johnson says, is where the secret to his impression lies.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2025
Written by Noah Oppenheim (Jackie, Zero Day), A House of Dynamite is a film of sturdy direction saddled with a clumsy script that delivers exposition with all the subtlety of a falling piano.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtlety
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Matt Fuchs, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
People would devote entire dissertations to developing techniques for distinguishing handwritten digits or for recognizing faces in images; then a deep-learning algorithm would digest the underlying data, discover the subtleties of the problem, and make those projects seem obsolete.
—James Somers, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
The subtlety, Johnson says, is where the secret to his impression lies.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2025
Written by Noah Oppenheim (Jackie, Zero Day), A House of Dynamite is a film of sturdy direction saddled with a clumsy script that delivers exposition with all the subtlety of a falling piano.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 24 Oct. 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 9 Nov. 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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