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What is another word for subtle?

Need synonyms for subtle? Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead.

Contexts ▼

Barely perceptible to the senses

Done or made with, or characterized by, care and precision

(of a mixture or effect) Delicately complex and understated

Capable of making fine distinctions

Crafty or cunning, especially in surreptitious behavior

Expressing subtlety of a particular quality as opposed to intense

Not clearly visible or attracting attention

Not clearly expressed or easily understood

Significantly below an amount or level that is adequate

Having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated and complex in nature

Difficult or impossible to define or describe

(of a joke or sense of humour) Subtle and expressed in a matter-of-fact way

Characterized by or fond of small and overfine distinctions

Requiring great skill or finesse in handling or treatment

Pertaining to or characterized by ratiocination, discursive thinking, or inferential knowledge

… more ▼

Adjective

Barely perceptible to the senses

indistinguishable

undistinguishable

hard to make out

inconsequential

impossible to detect

barely perceptible

hardly noticeable

hardly detectable

more ❯

“The colors of the petals, are almost indescribable, having all the subtle shades of pink and yellow, of white and light green, as well as blossoms that looked like speckles that are seen on some brook trout.”

Adjective

Done or made with, or characterized by, care and precision

aesthetically pleasing

more ❯

“She loves to draw with clean shapes and bold colors, infused with subtle textures to create playful designs.”

Adjective

(of a mixture or effect) Delicately complex and understated

delicately complex

hardly detectable

hardly noticeable

light-colored^US

light-coloured^UK

pale-coloured^UK

pale-colored^US

pastel-coloured^UK

pastel-colored^US

peaches-and-cream

dark-colored^US

dark-coloured^UK

more ❯

“By themselves, these genes had only subtle effects on the temporal pattern of egg-laying.”

Adjective

Capable of making fine distinctions

quick off the mark

quick on the uptake

hyperintelligent

sharp as a tack

not born yesterday

full of insight

showing great knowledge

with great knowledge

not missing a trick

quick on the trigger

knowing how many beans make five

with all one's wits about one

smart as a tack

thinking outside the box

more ❯

“That was not an impossible ideal, but it did require a subtle mind to grasp it.”

Adjective

Crafty or cunning, especially in surreptitious behavior

dishonourable^UK

dishonorable^US

treating with kid gloves

hole-and-corner

under the table

crazy like a fox

like a snake in the grass

terminologically inexact

not entirely truthful

economical with the truth

not to be trusted

behind-the-scenes

politically correct

double-crossing

as sharp as a tack

unsportsmanlike

cloak-and-dagger

playing politics

not straightforward

unconscientious

under-the-table

against the law

of dubious character

potentially illegal

intentionally misleading

under the counter

under-the-counter

not quite right

not to be depended on

against the rules

lacking sincerity

with tongue in cheek

more ❯

“The serpent, however, was as subtle and cunning as ever.”

Adjective

Expressing subtlety of a particular quality as opposed to intense

scarcely audible

incomprehensible

uncommunicative

hard to make out

indistinguishable

scarcely perceptible

mom^US

mum^UK

more ❯

Adjective

Not clearly visible or attracting attention

in the background

behind the scenes

out of the limelight

out of the spotlight

out of the public eye

more ❯

Adjective

Not clearly expressed or easily understood

incomprehensible

uninterpretable

as clear as mud

not easily understood

hard to understand

clear as dishwater

over one's head

above your head

between the lines

beyond comprehension

difficult to understand

beyond one's grasp

full of twists and turns

uncomprehensible

beyond understanding

impossible to understand

open to argument

cloak-and-dagger

open to question

thought-provoking

indistinguishable

impressionistic

shrouded in mystery

full of surprises

without a solution

unable to be solved

all Greek to someone

too hard to understand

too difficult to understand

all Greek to you

hard to explain

all Greek to me

circumlocutionary

under advisement

under examination

open to discussion

behind someone's back

behind-the-scenes

hole-and-corner

more ❯

Adjective

Significantly below an amount or level that is adequate

too little too late

barely sufficient

in short supply

thin on the ground

few and far between

inconsequential

hard to come by

not to be had for love nor money

seldom met with

on the small side

scarcer than hen's teeth

thinly distributed

in the minority

coming up short

with an insufficiency

out of the ordinary

with an insufficiency of

with too little …

with too few …

nothing more than

out of the common

once in a blue moon

as scarce as hens' teeth

more ❯

Adjective

Having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated and complex in nature

Adjective

Difficult or impossible to define or describe

unanalyzable^US

unanalysable^UK

defying description

beggaring description

beyond description

hard to describe

too sacred for words

more ❯

Adjective

(of a joke or sense of humour) Subtle and expressed in a matter-of-fact way

quietly humorous

tongue-in-cheek

uncomplimentary

more ❯

Adjective

Characterized by or fond of small and overfine distinctions

pass-remarkable

difficult to please

impossible to please

over-censorious

over-particular

easily disgusted

over-fastidious

on someone's back

particularized^US

selfdisciplined

particularised^UK

telling it like it is

going to great lengths

as it really happened

minding p's and q's

extremely careful

dotting the i's

crossing the t's

well thought-out

playing your cards close to your chest

more ❯

Adjective

Requiring great skill or finesse in handling or treatment

Adjective

Pertaining to or characterized by ratiocination, discursive thinking, or inferential knowledge

Adjective

Not obvious

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Nearby Words

subtle addition

subtle argument

subtle criticism

subtle difference

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