Meaning
Subtle means something that is delicate, not obvious, or difficult to notice or understand. It can describe slight differences, clever methods, or refined qualities.
Grammar and Usage
- Part of speech: Adjective
- Describes nouns (subtle hint, subtle change, subtle flavor).
- Often used to suggest sophistication, cleverness, or something hard to detect.
Sentence structures:
- subtle + noun: "a subtle smile"
- be subtle in (doing sth): "She was subtle in expressing her disagreement."
- subtle difference/change/shift: indicates a small but important difference.
Common Phrases
- subtle difference
- subtle hint
- subtle smile
- subtle change
- subtle approach
Collocations
- adjective + noun: subtle flavor, subtle meaning, subtle shift
- verb + subtle: notice something subtle, appreciate something subtle
- adverb + subtle: very subtle, surprisingly subtle
Examples
- There was a subtle change in his tone of voice.
- She gave him a subtle hint that she wasn’t interested.
- The painting uses subtle colors to create a calm effect.
- I admire his subtle sense of humor.
- The perfume has a subtle but lasting fragrance.
- The differences between the two products are subtle but important.
- He made a subtle gesture to signal that it was time to leave.
- The writer’s subtle use of symbolism makes the novel deeper.
Synonyms or Related
- delicate
- slight
- refined
- understated
- nuanced
Antonym
- obvious
- blatant
- direct