as in cunning
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means
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
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Recent Examples of subtlety
That subtlety also means these objects aren’t optimized for visibility.
—
Mecca Pryor, Essence, 13 Jan. 2026
Its challenge will be scale — and whether subtlety can compete with spectacle and satire once preferential ballots come into play.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 12 Jan. 2026
The words lacked diplomatic subtlety, but the mullahs in Tehran got the message.
—The Wall Street Journal, Twin Cities, 6 Jan. 2026
Narrated by the venerable David Attenborough in the BBC version and the incomparable Sigourney Weaver in the Discovery Channel edition, Planet Earth treats audiences with its high-tech, cutting-edge visuals that encompass both the grandeur and subtleties of Mother Earth.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtlety
Mecca Pryor, Essence, 13 Jan. 2026
Its challenge will be scale — and whether subtlety can compete with spectacle and satire once preferential ballots come into play.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 12 Jan. 2026
The words lacked diplomatic subtlety, but the mullahs in Tehran got the message.
—The Wall Street Journal, Twin Cities, 6 Jan. 2026
Narrated by the venerable David Attenborough in the BBC version and the incomparable Sigourney Weaver in the Discovery Channel edition, Planet Earth treats audiences with its high-tech, cutting-edge visuals that encompass both the grandeur and subtleties of Mother Earth.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtlety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subtlety
Noun
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Because Maradona, in a burst of cunning and trickery, also used his hand.—
Esteban Campanela,
CNN Money,
25 Nov. 2025
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Landing a good apartment in New York City can take some cunning.—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Mike Bowman, designer, furniture industry expert, and director of marketing for Harmonia Living, says this trend relies on furnishings to bring artfulness to a space—rather than just functionality.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
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There is a real seriousness to the score — the scheming bad-guy music has the artfulness of Prokofiev, and even the sneaking-around cues have musical integrity and structure.—
Tim Greiving,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subtlety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subtlety. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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