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
Unfortunately, many of the vocal and emotional subtleties that SZA showed on a prior tour stop at the United Center faded here.
—
Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2025
With nuance and subtlety, with grace and deep feeling, Jayson Greene writes about the most ancient of human stories of love and grief, alongside the pressing, hypermodern concerns of the digital age, like artificial intelligence.
—Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 17 June 2025
However, working out the best response means delving into the subtleties of how people communicate with one another, such as determining when a direct response is better than a more hedged one.
—ArsTechnica, 12 June 2025
Its eight feathers represent the eight original NWSL teams, including the Boston Breakers, with more specific symbolism and subtleties throughout.
—Michael Loré, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtlety
Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2025
With nuance and subtlety, with grace and deep feeling, Jayson Greene writes about the most ancient of human stories of love and grief, alongside the pressing, hypermodern concerns of the digital age, like artificial intelligence.
—Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 17 June 2025
However, working out the best response means delving into the subtleties of how people communicate with one another, such as determining when a direct response is better than a more hedged one.
—ArsTechnica, 12 June 2025
Its eight feathers represent the eight original NWSL teams, including the Boston Breakers, with more specific symbolism and subtleties throughout.
—Michael Loré, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtlety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subtlety
cunning
Noun
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The chief specimen here (played by MMA fighter Chi Lewis-Parry) is a massive beast whose brute strength is matched by his cunning.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2025
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On the other end of the spectrum was the more docile Kelly who often felt conflicted when her morals clashed with the cunning needed to succeed in the game.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subtlety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subtlety. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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