subtle

adjective

ˈsə-tᵊl How to pronounce subtle (audio)
Definition of subtlenext
1
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
2
as in shrewd
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means used subtle methods of persuasion

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in delicate
made or done with extreme care and accuracy the subtle strokes of the painter's brush

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 subtle The not-so-subtle dig comes after Kraft involved himself in the supporting lineup on Sheeran’s ongoing Loop Tour. — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2026 Loloi x Magnolia Home Bryn Throw Pillow This throw pillow layers in subtle texture and pattern with a linear design and diffused palette. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026 Burke, who was reconstructing fossil gharials for his doctoral project, noted the subtle differences between the unidentified species and the false gharial, and started to work on an up-to-date description in December 2023. — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026 The prospect of a new Warner owner also loomed over awards season, from #BlockTheMerger pins to more subtle nods in acceptance speeches. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for subtle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subtle
  1. exquisite
  2. cunning
  3. delicate
  4. elegant
  5. slick
  6. fine
  7. deceptive
  8. exact
Adjective
  • There’s no end of things to do here—an athletic club, frequent cultural events, and an exquisite spa.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Played with exquisite, improbably expressive steeliness by Florence Pugh, Cathy does not awaken from nowhere as a predator.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of exquisite
Adjective
  • Magpies are opportunistic scavengers, incredibly cunning and deceitful and capable of calculated deception.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Last week, Alan Cumming’s cunning competition empire The Traitors unsheathed its most diabolical twist yet.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of cunning
Adjective
  • Another standout design element came through gilded metallic chains on several sandals, which created a sense of delicate and dynamic glamour.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026
  • That’s a delicate way of saying that the neighborhood, for all its density and height, is still a little underpopulated.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of delicate
Adjective
  • The elegant and spacious suites feature terraces with sun loungers and panoramic ocean views.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Working with the local firm Dvira Interiors, the owners turned the 12,000-square-foot residence into an elegant home that takes advantage of refined touches like ornate decorative moldings and brushed bronze and satin gold fixtures.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of elegant
Adjective
  • The residents also projected a slick video (narrated by a British actor and viewed by Deadline) that talked about how the residents hear screams every 20 to 40 seconds, which averages out to 1,000 screams a day, 365,000 a year.
    — Lynette Rice, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026
  • There’s plenty of that to go around, too, beginning with a bizarrely grisly meet-uncute between Lowen Ashleigh (Johnson), a young novelist with acclaim but no sales to write home about, and slick realtor Jeremy Crawford (Hartnett).
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of slick
Adjective
  • Her finest moment, however, comes at the aforementioned weed seltzer party.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Cage has described Spider-Noir as a Roy Lichtenstein mash-up of fine-art film and mass-cultural television.
    — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of fine
Adjective
  • In past elections, deceptive political robocalls have resulted in significant fines associated with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the federal law at the center of the petition.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The film chronicled Gortner’s youth as a Pentecostal preacher in the American South and exposed the deceptive practices used to bilk believers out of their money.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of deceptive
Adjective
  • The singer-songwriter had purchased the exact vintage Gunne Sax maxi dress Meg White wore on the cover of the White Stripes’ 2003 album Elephant, released the same year she was born.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026
  • An exact cause of death was never determined amid accusations that the boy, who had frequent seizures, had been deprived of crucial medication.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of exact

Browse Nearby Words

subtitles
subtle
subtleness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Subtle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subtle. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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