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
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
How that is playing out in terms of stylistic difference will have to be weighed by bootleg-favoring Dylanologists who are more attuned to the subtleties of band interplay.
—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
21 June 2026
That subtlety is probably the 720M's greatest strength.
—
Sascha Brodsky,
PC Magazine,
21 June 2026
Senegal home Sporting uniforms are not usually a canvas on which artists aim for subtlety.
—
Ashley Fetters Maloy,
Washington Post,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for subtlety
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
23 June 2026
How that is playing out in terms of stylistic difference will have to be weighed by bootleg-favoring Dylanologists who are more attuned to the subtleties of band interplay.
—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
21 June 2026
That subtlety is probably the 720M's greatest strength.
—
Sascha Brodsky,
PC Magazine,
21 June 2026
Senegal home Sporting uniforms are not usually a canvas on which artists aim for subtlety.
—
Ashley Fetters Maloy,
Washington Post,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for subtlety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subtlety
Noun
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Honest Abe is forced to scheme, relying on grit and cunning to win the votes to abolish slavery.
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Unable to outrun the Bitchfist, the Hand earns his reputation for cunning and courage.
Noun
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All of this shone vividly through his work, which shared his joy, artfulness and deep feeling, and most of all privileged human experience and social interaction.
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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.
Noun
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The real surprise comes from the subtleness of the rose.
Cite this Entry
“Subtlety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subtlety. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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