Categories: GeneralSynonyms

SUBTLE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for SUBTLE?

Need another word that means the same as “subtle”? Find 40 synonyms and 30 related words for “subtle” in this overview.

Table Of Contents:

Subtle as an Adjective
Definitions of "Subtle" as an adjective
Synonyms of "Subtle" as an adjective (40 Words)
Usage Examples of "Subtle" as an adjective
Associations of "Subtle" (30 Words)

The synonyms of “Subtle” are: elusive, insidious, pernicious, fine, nice, overnice, minute, precise, narrow, tenuous, understated, low-key, muted, subdued, astute, keen, quick, acute, sharp, razor-sharp, canny, shrewd, aware, perceptive, discerning, sensitive, discriminating, penetrating, sagacious, wise, clever, intelligent, skilful, artful, ingenious, adroit, cunning, crafty, wily, devious

Subtle as an Adjective

Definitions of "Subtle" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “subtle” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

Difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze.
Crafty; cunning.
Able to make fine distinctions.
(of a mixture or effect) delicately complex and understated.
Capable of making fine distinctions.
Working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way.
Arranged in an ingenious and elaborate way.
(especially of a change or distinction) so delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyse or describe.
Making use of clever and indirect methods to achieve something.

Synonyms of "Subtle" as an adjective (40 Words)

acute	Denoting or designed for patients with an acute form of a disease. An acute* or critical lack of research funds.*
adroit	Clever or skilful. An adroit* technician.*
artful	Clever or skilful, especially in a crafty or cunning way. An artful* photograph of a striking woman.*
astute	Marked by practical hardheaded intelligence. An astute* businessman.*
aware	Having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception. Was aware* of his opponent s hostility.*
canny	Having or showing shrewdness and good judgement, especially in money or business matters. Canny investors will switch banks if they think they are getting a raw deal.
clever	Showing skill and originality; ingenious. How clever* of him to think of this.*
crafty	Involving the making of decorative objects and other things by hand. A crafty* crook faked an injury to escape from prison.*
cunning	Marked by skill in deception. A cunning* baby.*
devious	Indirect in departing from the accepted or proper way; misleading. A devious* character.*
discerning	Unobtrusively perceptive and sympathetic. A discerning* reader.*
discriminating	Having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions. The discriminating* eye of the connoisseur.*
elusive	Difficult to remember. Success will become ever more elusive.
fine	Characterized by elegance or refinement or accomplishment. Anything you want is fine* by me Linda.*
ingenious	(of a machine or idea) cleverly and originally devised and well suited to its purpose. An ingenious* solution to the problem.*
insidious	Beguiling but harmful. Sexual harassment is a serious and insidious* problem.*
intelligent	(of a computer terminal) incorporating a microprocessor and having its own processing capability. An intelligent* guess.*
keen	Having or showing great perception or insight. Ear splitting explosive bursts keen* and sharp.*
low-key	Restrained in style or quality.
minute	Infinitely or immeasurably small. Two minute* whiplike threads of protoplasm.*
muted	(of colour or lighting) not bright; subdued. Muted trumpets.
narrow	Denoting a vowel pronounced with the root of the tongue drawn back so as to narrow the pharynx. The narrow* sense of a word.*
nice	(especially of a difference) slight or subtle. A nice* gesture.*
overnice	Excessively fastidious and easily disgusted. Mildred was overnice* in regard to their father.*
penetrating	(of a sound) clearly heard through or above other sounds. The students asked some penetrating* questions.*
perceptive	Of or relating to perception. A perceptive* observation.*
pernicious	Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way. The pernicious* influences of the mass media.*
precise	Used to emphasize that one is referring to an exact and particular thing. The director was precise* with his camera positions.*
quick	Moving quickly and lightly. A quick* inspection.*
razor-sharp	As sharp as a razor.
sagacious	Having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgement; wise or shrewd. Observant and thoughtful he was given to asking sagacious* questions.*
sensitive	Being susceptible to the attitudes, feelings, or circumstances of others. A mimosa s leaves are sensitive* to touch.*
sharp	Having or emitting a high pitched and sharp tone or tones. Her sharp* disappointment was tinged with embarrassment.*
shrewd	Used of persons. She was shrewd* enough to guess the motive behind his gesture.*
skilful	Having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude. A skilful* midfielder.*
subdued	Lacking in light; not bright or harsh. I felt strangely subdued* as I drove home.*
tenuous	Very weak or slight. A tenuous* fluid.*
understated	Presented or expressed in a subtle and effective way. Understated elegance.
wily	Marked by skill in deception. A wily* old attorney.*
wise	Sensible or prudent. Don t get wise* with me.*

Usage Examples of "Subtle" as an adjective

Subtle lighting.
The German plan was simple yet subtle.
A subtle poison.
The subtle fiend dissembled.
His whole attitude had undergone a subtle change.
A subtle difference.
His language expresses rich and subtle meanings.
A subtle mind.
He tried a more subtle approach.

Associations of "Subtle" (30 Words)

abstract	Give an abstract of. Abstract concepts such as love or beauty.
allusion	The practice of making allusions. A classical allusion.
artful	Not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness. Her artful* wiles.*
circumlocution	The use of many words where fewer would do, especially in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive. His admission came after years of circumlocution.
complexity	A factor involved in a complicated process or situation. He enjoyed the complexity* of modern computers.*
covert	A flock of coots. A woman covert.
crafty	Involving the making of decorative objects and other things by hand. A crafty* crook faked an injury to escape from prison.*
cunning	Attractive or quaint. A cunning* baby.*
difficult	Hard to control. A difficult* child.*
elusive	Skillful at eluding capture- David Kline. The elusive* thought he had had moments before.*
euphemism	An inoffensive or indirect expression that is substituted for one that is considered offensive or too harsh. The jargon has given us downsizing as a euphemism* for cuts.*
impalpable	Imperceptible to the senses or the mind. An impalpable* cloud.*
ingenious	(of a person) clever, original, and inventive. Ingenious devices.
innuendo	An indirect (and usually malicious) implication. A constant torrent of innuendo* gossip lies and half truths.*
insidious	Beguiling but harmful. Sexual harassment is a serious and insidious* problem.*
intangible	An intangible thing. Intangible assets such as good will.
intricacy	Details, especially of an involved or perplexing subject. The intricacy* of the procedure.*
manipulative	Relating to manipulation of an object or part of the body. A manipulative* skill.*
nuance	Give nuances to. The effect of the music is nuanced by the social situation of listeners.
obscure	Make obscure or unclear. Grey clouds obscure* the sun.*
reference	A source of information cited in a book or article. He carried an armful of references back to his desk.
secretive	(of a state or activity) characterized by the concealment of intentions and information. A secretive* smile.*
sly	Showing in an insinuating way that one has some secret knowledge that may be harmful or embarrassing. Sly as a fox.
subtlety	A subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude. The textural subtlety* of Degas.*
symbolism	Symbolic meaning attributed to natural objects or facts. He has always believed in the importance of symbolism* in garden art.*
tricky	Having concealed difficulty. I wouldn t trust her she s tricky.
undercurrent	A current below the surface of a fluid. Racial undercurrents.
undertone	A quiet or hushed tone of voice. They were talking in undertones.
vague	Not precisely limited, determined, or distinguished. Many patients suffer vague* symptoms.*
wily	Skilled at gaining an advantage, especially deceitfully. A wily* old attorney.*