1
as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
used subtle methods of persuasion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nice
made or done with extreme care and accuracy
the subtle strokes of the painter's brush
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in exquisite
satisfying or pleasing because of fineness or mildness
a subtle suggestion of the Near East in the soup's flavoring
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of subtle
References to classic films are woven throughout the space — some subtle, others unmistakable.
—
Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
The interior designer’s Wayfair rug collection with Loloi includes so many options in neutral shades and subtle patterns that complement a variety of home styles, including modern, farmhouse, and traditional aesthetics.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Go to Settings > Apps > Phone and toggle Haptics off to stop those subtle buzzes that can feel like extra notifications.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Shorebirds like sandpipers and plovers use this sense to detect prey beneath the sand by sensing subtle mechanical vibrations.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtle
Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
The interior designer’s Wayfair rug collection with Loloi includes so many options in neutral shades and subtle patterns that complement a variety of home styles, including modern, farmhouse, and traditional aesthetics.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Go to Settings > Apps > Phone and toggle Haptics off to stop those subtle buzzes that can feel like extra notifications.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Shorebirds like sandpipers and plovers use this sense to detect prey beneath the sand by sensing subtle mechanical vibrations.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subtle
Adjective
-
Fueled by vengeance and cunning ambition, Ashur rises from betrayal and bloodshed to seize power, gouging out a place for the House of Ashur in a new arena full of violence, desire, and twisted loyalty.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The elaborate scheme, masterminded by members of four Mafia families in collusion with celebrity athletes, ensnared unsuspecting victims, bleeding them of over $7 million through cunning deception, prosecutors said in the indictment.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Ten-inch-tall elves, called Scout Elves, arrive in children's homes ahead of Christmas with a mission to relay children's behavior back to Santa Claus for his naughty and nice list.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
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To those earning $50,000 a year at their regular jobs, making $5,000 in a few nights of netting was a nice bonus.—
Steve Waters,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
One of the galaxies that was imaged, the face-on spiral Messier 61, displayed exquisite new details, including an enormous stellar stream never spotted before.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The gallery presents this relationship through two exquisite caftans designed by Tom Ford who was Yves Saint Laurent’s creative director from 2000 to 2004.—
Essence,
Essence,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Fall travel season is here, and my suitcase is officially in its comfy-but-cute era.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Shoppers call out the cute and functional design.—
Kim Grundy,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Lily Allen strikes a pose in a delicate lace outfit on the carpet at 2025 CFDA Fashion Awards.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The idea worked on paper, but in practice, the alignment was extremely delicate, and the overall setup became unstable and hard to scale.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Produced from 1996 to 2005, the Neptune is an elegant take on the classic sports watch featuring a slim case and an integrated bracelet with fish scale-like links in honor of the god of the sea.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
8 Nov. 2025
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Paris Hilton looks elegant in a black gown with her signature sparkly touch at the Waldorf Astoria's grand reopening in New York City.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The slick lobby was guarded by uniformed doormen and the elevator took me to a long polished corridor leading to a big mahogany door.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
-
But Ratanaruang’s most essential collaborator is, again, Doyle, who uses desaturated 16mm to evoke Sao’s past and slick digital cinematography to capture her present.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Simply pump the handle to cut food into fine, chunky, or coarse bits as needed.—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Daniel Craig plays the detective Benoit Blanc, a southern gentleman with a deep drawl and a love of fine linen suits.—
Anna Russell,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subtle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subtle. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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