Thesaurus results for SUBTLETIES

subtlety

noun

ˈsə-tᵊl-tē

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

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 subtlety Leaving behind the poetics of artistic subtlety, the work here answers that question with sharp transparency. —

Anya Sesay, jsonline.com, 16 Feb. 2026 Duvall was a master of subtlety as an Irishman among Italians, rarely at the center of a scene, but often listening and advising in the background, an irreplaceable thread through the saga of the Corleone crime family. —

Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026 His lack of pretension, reflected in performances that found power in subtlety, only added to the admiration of his peers and the public. —

Fred Schruers, IndieWire, 16 Feb. 2026 Plus, all the discourse surrounding the performance could easily drown out the subtlety of Ford’s inclusion. —

Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 15 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for subtlety

Recent Examples of Synonyms for subtlety

Noun

Over thousands of years of history, our propaganda has repeatedly sought to portray ourselves as the plucky underdogs, surviving against huge physical odds by marshaling our intelligence and native cunning against the brute forces of nature.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
Holding viewers by the throat for a handful of strong beats, even as the script slips through the entire cast’s fingers, the devilish actor sells Besson’s interpretation on charisma and cunning.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Feb. 2026