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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

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

extremely small

invisible to the naked eye

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

“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

treating with kid gloves

hyperintelligent

sharp as a tack

not born yesterday

not missing a trick

smart as a tack

quick on the trigger

knowing how many beans make five

with all one's wits about one

politically correct

thinking outside the box

full of insight

showing great knowledge

with great knowledge

as sharp as a tack

quick on the draw

well thought out

having been around

with both feet on the ground

well-thought-out

with one's feet on the ground

smart as a whip

knows what's what

ear to the ground

discriminational

self-centered^US

self-centred^UK

individualising^UK

individualizing^US

well versed in the ways of the world

with good taste

nimble-fingered

having know-how

having good hands

full of common sense

in one's right mind

having all one's marbles

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

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

double-crossing

unsportsmanlike

cloak-and-dagger

playing politics

not straightforward

against the law

sticky-fingered

unauthorized^US

against the rules

under-the-table

unauthorised^UK

under the counter

unconscientious

nimble-fingered

not to be depended on

intentionally misleading

misrepresentative

unconstitutional

of dubious character

under-the-counter

potentially illegal

contrary to law

snake in the grass

in violation of law

beyond contempt

demoralizing^US

demoralising^UK

of bad reputation

not trustworthy

good-for-nothing

not to be relied upon

open to bribery

gone to the dogs

in the doghouse

unsubstantiated

lacking sincerity

with tongue in cheek

insurrectionary

under suspicion

of doubtful honesty

open to question

not quite right

without law and order

more ❯

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

Adjective

Expressing subtlety of a particular quality as opposed to intense

light-coloured^UK

light-colored^US

peaches-and-cream

pale-coloured^UK

pale-colored^US

pastel-coloured^UK

pastel-colored^US

scarcely audible

incomprehensible

uncommunicative

mom^US

mum^UK

hard to make out

indistinguishable

scarcely perceptible

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

impossible to understand

beyond understanding

beyond one's grasp

full of twists and turns

uncomprehensible

open to argument

cloak-and-dagger

open to question

thought-provoking

indistinguishable

impressionistic

shrouded in mystery

full of surprises

all Greek to someone

too hard to understand

too difficult to understand

hard to explain

without a solution

unable to be solved

all Greek to you

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

thin on the ground

inconsequential

few and far between

in short supply

hard to come by

not to be had for love nor money

out of the common

out of the ordinary

seldom met with

on the small side

barely sufficient

scarcer than hen's teeth

in the minority

with an insufficiency

thinly distributed

with too little …

with too few …

nothing more than

uncharacteristic

once in a blue moon

as scarce as hens' teeth

less-than-stellar

dissatisfactory

not good enough

less than ideal

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

Not obvious

Adjective

Characterized by or fond of small and overfine distinctions

pass-remarkable

difficult to please

impossible to please

over-particular

over-censorious

on someone's back

easily disgusted

unfavourable^UK

over-fastidious

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

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

Adjective

Thin or gaunt

all skin and bones

spindle-shanked

looking like a bag of bones

as thin as a rake

as thin as a reed

like a bag of bones

without an ounce of fat

worn to a shadow

like a skeleton

like a matchstick

looking like death warmed up

a slip of a …

deprived of food

loosely jointed

without appetite

more ❯

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What is the opposite of subtle?
Sentences with the word subtle
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Nearby Words

subtle argument

subtle difference

subtle distinction

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