subtlety
noun
sub·tle·ty ˈsə-tᵊl-tē 
plural subtleties
1
: the quality or state of being subtle
2
: something subtle
Synonyms
- artfulness
- artifice
- caginess
- cageyness
- canniness
- craft
- craftiness
- cunning
- cunningness
- deviousness
- foxiness
- guile
- guilefulness
- slickness
- slyness
- sneakiness
- subtleness
- wiliness
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The pianist performed with subtlety and passion. 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
Recent Examples on the Web The subtlety is made possible by performances dialed into the character’s idiosyncratic, often contradictory natures. 
Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Sep. 2022 There’s no subtlety as drum hits spark explosions for the true head-banging experience. Tristram Lozaw, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2022 The selection evolves continually, but the sense of artfulness and subtlety is also constant — occasionally too much so. Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2022 Playing his character also required a subtlety to reveal his true nature. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 18 June 2022 Even in productions that aspire to greater subtlety, a grinding literalism threatens—a dutiful hitting of marks. Molly Fischer, The New Yorker, 13 June 2022 Eventually the film's subtlety gives way to a more straightforward conclusion. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 2 June 2022 There are moments when the work is overt — present and readable — and other moments where meaning is hidden, exposed in fractured layers of paint, where subtlety resides. Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2022 Falling just a bit short of a true orange-candy orange, Squash is toned-down take on the juicy hue without succumbing to subtlety. Marci Robin, Allure, 23 Apr. 2022 See More
Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Sep. 2022 There’s no subtlety as drum hits spark explosions for the true head-banging experience. Tristram Lozaw, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2022 The selection evolves continually, but the sense of artfulness and subtlety is also constant — occasionally too much so. Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2022 Playing his character also required a subtlety to reveal his true nature. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 18 June 2022 Even in productions that aspire to greater subtlety, a grinding literalism threatens—a dutiful hitting of marks. Molly Fischer, The New Yorker, 13 June 2022 Eventually the film's subtlety gives way to a more straightforward conclusion. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 2 June 2022 There are moments when the work is overt — present and readable — and other moments where meaning is hidden, exposed in fractured layers of paint, where subtlety resides. Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2022 Falling just a bit short of a true orange-candy orange, Squash is toned-down take on the juicy hue without succumbing to subtlety. Marci Robin, Allure, 23 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English sotilte, subtilte, from Anglo-French sotilté, from Latin subtilitat-, subtilitas, from subtilis
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
subtlety
noun
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
Relevance
- cunning
- subtleness
- artfulness
- slyness
- sneakiness
- guile
- deviousness
- slickness
- canniness
- cunningness
- wiliness
- craftiness
- caginess
- ease
- craft
- artifice
- foxiness
- guilefulness
- inventiveness
- cleverness
- finesse
- calculation
- shrewdness
- cageyness
- ingenuity
- design
- care
- ingeniousness
- savvy
- sharpness
- duplicity
- shiftiness
- underhandedness
- facility
- deceitfulness