Word
subtlety
Phoneticssub·tle·ty, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsətəɫti/
UK/sˈʌtəlti/
Definitions
01delicate quality
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the quality of being delicate or indirect so that it is not immediately obvious.
n. the quality of being understated or delicate, often requiring careful attention to perceive.
“I enjoyed the subtlety of the flavors in the soup.”
“The director was praised for the subtlety of his approach, eschewing heavy-handed symbolism for quiet, observational moments.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02a fine distinction
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Academic
n. a small but important detail or difference that is hard to see.
n. a fine-grained distinction or a precise point in an argument or piece of work.
“The lawyer explained the subtleties of the new contract.”
“To truly appreciate the poem, one must grasp the linguistic subtleties that the translator has worked hard to preserve.”
Synonyms
03cleverness or trickery
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Literary
n. the use of clever or indirect methods to get what you want.
n. the quality of being clever in a surreptitious or deceitful manner.
“He used great subtlety to convince his boss to give him a raise.”
“The diplomat navigated the crisis with a level of subtlety that masked his true intentions from the opposing party.”
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Stars or not, Shirley Henderson and Alan Cumming only bring a greater degree of subtlety to this fragile work.” “On a video call between sets at Rotterdam’s North Sea jazz festival , the 39-year-old speaks like he plays, with quirkiness, subtlety and mischief.” Etymology
From Middle English sotilte, from Old French sutilté, inherited from Latin subtīlitās, from subtīlis (“subtle”). Equivalent to subtle + -ty. Doublet of subtility.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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