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subtle

adjective

ˈsə-tᵊl How to pronounce subtle (audio)
Definition of subtlenext
1
as in exquisite
satisfying or pleasing because of fineness or mildness a subtle suggestion of the Near East in the soup's flavoring

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shrewd
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means used subtle methods of persuasion

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in delicate
made or done with extreme care and accuracy the subtle strokes of the painter's brush

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of subtle After adjusting for demographic, lifestyle, health and environmental factors, the researchers found that any increase in light exposure above 3 lux during nighttime sleep was associated with measurable, subtle cardiac damage. — Barbara Mantel, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026 Ask any fan of clean girl beauty—there are subtle differences to each and every trending neutral manicure, from soap nails to princess nails, glass manicure, and beyond. — Ana Morales, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2026 Ravishing and deeply enigmatic, Venus doesn’t do anything subtle when journeying through the Underworld. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2026 While the original Air Jordan 14 from 1998 featured not-so-subtle Ferrari inspiration, Jordan Brand doubled down on the concept with 2014’s release. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for subtle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subtle
  1. exquisite
  2. cunning
  3. delicate
  4. elegant
  5. slick
  6. fine
  7. deceptive
  8. exact
Adjective
  • An outpost of the Milanese hotspot, the Italian eatery offers fine dining in exquisite surroundings.
    — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
  • In Barbara Forever, an exquisite new documentary by Brydie O’Connor, there’s even old, grainy footage of Hammer essentially saying as much before a screening of her films.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of exquisite
Adjective
  • But the heart of this story is the toxic years-long romance between Marjorie and her co-conspirator Bill Rothstein (David Harbour), an equally cunning player who was blinded by love.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Supporters of the administration view this back and forth as a cunning ploy to buy time for the United States to position itself more advantageously for a confrontation.
    — Leonard A. Schuette, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of cunning
Adjective
  • The gold complemented her ethereal lilac chiffon McQueen dress, featuring a sweetheart strapless neckline and flowing layers of delicate fabric.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The answers range from good communication and baseball IQ to the ability to navigate the delicate balance of personalities in the clubhouse.
    — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of delicate
Adjective
  • Specs AccordionItemContainerButton Upsides AccordionItemContainerButton Downsides Instead of constantly kicking that pile of shoes to the side by your entryway, give them an elegant home with this tilt-out storage cabinet.
    — Lauren Arzbaecher, Architectural Digest, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The New York Times recently showcased 41 of the greatest Mexican restaurants across the country, from taco trucks to elegant eateries with tasting menus.
    — Alexiah Syrai Olsen, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of elegant
Adjective
  • Although Craven’s touch is missing, Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett honor his memory by mimicking his style while engraving their own slick mark.
    — Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Sep. 2026
  • In some memes in recent weeks, the photo has become so over-edited that the character's glistening face is slicker, darker and even more uncanny.
    — Owen Carry, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of slick
Adjective
  • Crafted from the finest, lightest tweed, the dress—chosen by stylist Ramona Tabita—features a sumptuous knotted structure that opens into a generous back neckline and culminates in a majestic train that skims the red carpet.
    — Giacomo Aricò, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2026
  • She’s played with a darkly enigmatic, unnerving quality by James in her finest work to date — a knowing, even domineering smile often curling around her lips.
    — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of fine
Adjective
  • López’s attorney sent Rivas and her group a cease-and-desist letter last month, citing trademark infringement and deceptive and unfair trade practices, the letter shows.
    — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The technology was also tested against deceptive behaviour, an in a different scenario, fishing boats appeared to retreat while vessels from another direction accelerated toward the coastguard ship.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of deceptive
Adjective
  • As the names of the nearly 3,000 victims are read aloud, a bell rings at the exact minute each of the four planes crashed and when each of the twin towers fell.
    — Lila Dominus, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026
  • These are compared to a map of magnetic anomalies previously prepared to arrive at the exact location of the sensor, without using a satellite signal.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of exact

Browse Nearby Words

subtitles
subtle
subtleness
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Cite this Entry

“Subtle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subtle. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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