Thesaurus results for SUBTLETY

subtlety

noun

ˈsə-tᵊl-tē

Definition of subtlety

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

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of subtlety The hope is that Emma’s story will offer a fresh perspective on a genre that hasn’t always treated its female characters with a lot of nuance or subtlety. — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 23 Sep. 2026 Yee Eun Nam’s projections inject into this transient world a welcome subtlety. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026 The smallest detail can affect the toy’s value, from the stuffing — the initial batch was reportedly made with PVC pellets, while later versions were made with polyethylene pellets — to subtleties in the eyes, nose or mouth. — Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026 That the film mostly pulls this off is testament to its formal precision and to a central pairing of actors, in Lavernhe and Lottin, who manage to find subtlety where broad strokes would seem to be called for. — Caspar Salmon, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for subtlety

Recent Examples of Synonyms for subtlety

Noun

Since the second Inauguration, the Trumps and their satraps have operated with all the commercial cunning of the Corleone family; the White House is their front, their Genco Pura Olive Oil Company.

— David Remnick, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026
Rhaenyra also dismisses Mysaria, a wise move carried out in a very unwise manner, given the woman’s cunning.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of cunning

Noun

The term seems to imply a mastery of all the resources of a form, displayed in a surprising context without self-conscious artfulness.

— Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
No need to get bogged down in questions about provenance, artfulness, long-form storytelling, or even metaphors.

— Robin Givhan, Vanity Fair, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of artfulness

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subtleness

subtlety

subtract

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“Subtlety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subtlety. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of subtlety

noun

Example Sentences

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