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
Restraint and subtlety have become her trademarks.
—
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2025
As my colleague Lila Shapiro found in her reporting over the summer, peace has long been made with the trade-off of cheaper, faster output at the cost of subtlety and craft.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2025
Physicists began to appreciate the subtlety of this situation more than two decades ago and have been exploring the quantum mechanical version of the second law ever since.
—Quanta Magazine, 1 Oct. 2025
Saudis studying abroad lose the subtleties of the language and miss out on the culture, memes, and everything else that defines this generation.
—Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtlety
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Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2025
As my colleague Lila Shapiro found in her reporting over the summer, peace has long been made with the trade-off of cheaper, faster output at the cost of subtlety and craft.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2025
Physicists began to appreciate the subtlety of this situation more than two decades ago and have been exploring the quantum mechanical version of the second law ever since.
—Quanta Magazine, 1 Oct. 2025
Saudis studying abroad lose the subtleties of the language and miss out on the culture, memes, and everything else that defines this generation.
—Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 26 Sep. 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 14 Oct. 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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