1
as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
used subtle methods of persuasion
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nice
made or done with extreme care and accuracy
the subtle strokes of the painter's brush
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in exquisite
satisfying or pleasing because of fineness or mildness
a subtle suggestion of the Near East in the soup's flavoring
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of subtle
My grandmother’s violence is more subtle than a fist.
—
Adriana E. Ramírez, Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
Longtime Silversea devotees will notice subtle changes, such as smaller charcuterie boards and dinner menus at La Terrazza.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
What happens in phone-free restaurants Something subtle shifts when phones are out of reach.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
The diamonds are subtle, integrated into the design rather than sitting on top.
—Stephen Watson, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subtle
Adriana E. Ramírez, Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
Longtime Silversea devotees will notice subtle changes, such as smaller charcuterie boards and dinner menus at La Terrazza.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
What happens in phone-free restaurants Something subtle shifts when phones are out of reach.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
The diamonds are subtle, integrated into the design rather than sitting on top.
—Stephen Watson, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subtle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subtle
Adjective
-
Past friends and former associates described him to me as an exceptionally cunning con man, a consummate charmer, and a womanizer.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Starring Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, and Eric Bana, the film was shot on location in the Australian wilderness and features Theron as a grieving woman on a solo adventure who becomes the target of a cunning killer (Egerton) in a twisted game of cat-and-mouse.—
Abid Rahman,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
North Texas will see a nice break from any rain before chances quickly return late Friday to Saturday.—
Michael Autovino,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Jacob Wilson hit a two-run single and made a nice defensive play at shortstop, helping the Athletics to a 2-1 win over Texas on Tuesday night that ended a seven-game losing streak against the Rangers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Under the exquisite surface is something quite moving, a grieving family grappling with the kinds of big, swirling, complicated feelings that make life hard and art great.—
Debby Wolfinsohn,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The home, simply put, is exquisite.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Fly across the world to visit archives and then look at additional pamphlets just because the covers look cute.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Apr. 2026
-
For adventurous travelers who want to look cute in photos but also have a hike, tennis match, or other adventure on the agenda, this pleated skirt is an ideal pick.—
Paris Wilson,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Moving this delicate variant to Broadway posed a risk.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
16 Apr. 2026
-
While the Chinese government has played a delicate diplomatic hand over the conflict between its biggest global rival and its closest friend in the Middle East, its people have displayed a wave of curiosity and admiration toward Iran.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This elegant opera house hosts numerous events, mostly opera and ballet.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The smooth, fluid drape reads elegant, and the fabric has a soft silk sheen that holds up beautifully in a suitcase.—
Paris Wilson,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Kalani Brundage slipped a slick pass over to Addison Smith who beat the Kingwood keeper with a low shot to the left side to give Forney a 1-0 lead in the 8th minute.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Apr. 2026
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This is especially true in Santorini, where steep, slick stone steps and cobblestone paths can be tricky to navigate.—
Caitlin Palumbo,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Trotsky’s arguments about revolution in one nation versus a revolution of the international proletariat, like the fine argumentative tracery of Paul’s Jewish Christians versus Greek ones, seemed vital to the movement at the time but weirdly trivial and abstract to those outside it.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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Members of the first group will be fine even as college closures accelerate.—
Jeffrey Selingo,
The Atlantic,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subtle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subtle. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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