subtleness

noun

as in cunning
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means the subtleness with which the boutique owner convinces you that you have to have that outrageously priced article of clothing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 subtleness The real surprise comes from the subtleness of the rose. — Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subtleness
  1. cunning
  2. subtlety
  3. artfulness
  4. slyness
Noun
  • Rhaenyra also dismisses Mysaria, a wise move carried out in a very unwise manner, given the woman’s cunning.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Nolan foregrounds the nobility that guides the character (his guilt, his dedication to his men, his yearning for his family) and neglects his wily cunning and egotism.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 27 July 2026
Definition of cunning
Noun
  • Part of lilac’s staying power may also come from its subtlety.
    — Jennet Jusu, Allure, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The hope is that Emma’s story will offer a fresh perspective on a genre that hasn’t always treated its female characters with a lot of nuance or subtlety.
    — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of subtlety
Noun
  • The term seems to imply a mastery of all the resources of a form, displayed in a surprising context without self-conscious artfulness.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
  • No need to get bogged down in questions about provenance, artfulness, long-form storytelling, or even metaphors.
    — Robin Givhan, Vanity Fair, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of artfulness
Noun
  • The harp is not an instrument of slyness, wryness, or the earth.
    — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Like the tricksters of myth, there’s depth to their slyness.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of slyness

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Cite this Entry

“Subtleness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subtleness. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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