Meaning & use
subtle
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Slight and delicate, so that it is hard to notice or describe.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after a verb: a subtle flavor, the change is subtle. The b is silent.
The soup has a subtle hint of ginger.
There was a subtle change in her tone.
The difference between the two shades is subtle.
adjectivecomparable
Clever in an indirect way, without being obvious or forceful.
Grammar: Often describes people or methods: a subtle approach, a subtle joke.
He gave a subtle hint that it was time to leave.
Her humor is subtle rather than loud.
Word forms
| comparative | subtler |
|---|---|
| superlative | subtlest |
Common combinations
- subtle difference
- There is a subtle difference between the two words.
- subtle hint
- She dropped a subtle hint about her birthday.
- subtle flavor
- Saffron adds a subtle flavor.
- subtle change
- I noticed a subtle change in his mood.
Synonyms and how they differ
- slight
- Slight only means small in degree, while subtle also suggests delicacy or skill.
- understated
- Understated describes a deliberately restrained style, whereas subtle can describe something naturally hard to detect.
- faint
- Faint describes weak light, sound or smell, but not cleverness.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: subtle or suttle?
subtle vs suttle
This is a misspelling. The correct spelling is subtle, with a silent b.
Practice
Which word best describes a barely noticeable change in color?
Choose one answer.
Subtle means slight and hard to notice. Drastic, glaring and violent suggest something obvious.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “subtle”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.