Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [suht-l]
- /ˈsʌt l/
- /ˈsʌt.əl/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [suht-l]
- /ˈsʌt l/
Definitions of subtle word
- adjective subtle thin, tenuous, or rarefied, as a fluid or an odor. 1
- adjective subtle fine or delicate in meaning or intent; difficult to perceive or understand: subtle irony. 1
- adjective subtle delicate or faint and mysterious: a subtle smile. 1
- adjective subtle requiring mental acuteness, penetration, or discernment: a subtle philosophy. 1
- adjective subtle characterized by mental acuteness or penetration: a subtle understanding. 1
- adjective subtle cunning, wily, or crafty: a subtle liar. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of subtle
First appearance:
before 1250 One of the 11% oldest English words
1250-1300; Middle English sotil < Old French < Latin subtīlis subtile (b of modern spelling < L)
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Subtle
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
subtle popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 95% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
subtle usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for subtle
adj subtle
- abstruse — You can describe something as abstruse if you find it difficult to understand, especially when you think it could be explained more simply.
- analytical — An analytical way of doing something involves the use of logical reasoning.
- beanstalk — the stem of a bean plant
- canny — A canny person is clever and able to think quickly. You can also describe a person's behaviour as canny.
- clear-sighted — If you describe someone as clear-sighted, you admire them because they are able to understand situations well and to make sensible judgments and decisions about them.
adjective subtle
- acroamatic — relating to oral communication
- astucious — Subtle; cunning; astute.
- attenuate — To attenuate something means to reduce it or weaken it.
- attenuated — An attenuated object is unusually long and thin.
- discreet — judicious in one's conduct or speech, especially with regard to respecting privacy or maintaining silence about something of a delicate nature; prudent; circumspect.
Antonyms for subtle
adj subtle
- blatant — You use blatant to describe something bad that is done in an open or very obvious way.
- blunt — If you are blunt, you say exactly what you think without trying to be polite.
- ear-splitting — ear-piercing: an earsplitting explosion.
- edgeless — a line or border at which a surface terminates: Grass grew along the edges of the road. The paper had deckle edges.
- glitzy — pretentiously or tastelessly showy: a glitzy gown.
adjective subtle
- overbold — Excessively bold.
Top questions with subtle
- what does subtle mean?
- what is subtle?
- how to be subtle?
- what is the opposite of subtle?
- how do you spell subtle?
- what subtle change does scout notice in her father?
- how to spell subtle?
- how to pronounce subtle?
- what is the definition of subtle?
- what does the word subtle mean?
- what is the meaning of subtle?
- what does subtle?
- how to use subtle in a sentence?
- subtle what does it mean?
- what is subtle prejudice?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with s
- Words starting with su
- Words starting with sub
- Words starting with subt
- Words starting with subtl
- Words starting with subtle