Synonyms of subtlety

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

• cunning
• artfulness
• subtleness
• slyness
• guile
• deviousness
• slickness
• sneakiness
• canniness
• ease
• craft
• cunningness
• craftiness
• wiliness
• artifice
• calculation
• caginess
• inventiveness
• cleverness
• shrewdness
• finesse
• design
• foxiness
• care
• ingenuity
• guilefulness
• savvy
• sharpness
• ingeniousness
• duplicity
• facility
• shiftiness
• underhandedness
• deceitfulness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of subtlety

Versace isn't one of the world's most famous fashion houses thanks to its subtlety, and the brand's swimsuits are just as bright, bold, and daring as its couture and ready-to-wear collections. — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 24 June 2026

Instead, Coddington suggests incorporating some subtlety with more nuanced and sophisticated shades like aubergine over red. — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 24 June 2026

His own flaw being his lack of subtlety at times. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 23 June 2026

Also, one of the big themes of Homeric scholarship over the past few decades has been the flexibility of the narrative perspectives in the original poems and the subtlety of the narrative shifts. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 23 June 2026