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   subtle

   /ˈsʌtl/

   adjective

   • 1. (especially of a change or distinction) so delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyse or describe: "his language expresses rich and subtle meanings" Similar finefine-drawnultra-fineniceoverniceminuteprecisenarrowtenuoushair-splittingindistinctindefiniteelusiveabstruseinformal:minusculeOpposite crude
   • ▪ (of a mixture or effect) delicately complex and understated: "subtle lighting" Similar understatedlow-keymutedtoned downsubdueddelicatefaintpalesoftindistinctindefinitevaguewashed outOpposite luridobvious
   • ▪ capable of making fine distinctions: "a subtle mind" Similar astutekeenquickfineacutesharprazor-likerazor-sharprapier-likecannyshrewdawareperceptivediscerningsensitivediscriminatingpenetratingsagaciouswisecleverintelligentskilfulartfulsapientpercipientperspicaciousinformal:on the ballsavvyarchaic:politicOpposite slow-witted
   • ▪ arranged in an ingenious and elaborate way: "the German plan was simple yet subtle"
   • 2. making use of clever and indirect methods to achieve something: "he tried a more subtle approach"
   • 3. crafty; cunning: archaic "the subtle fiend dissembled" Similar ingeniouscleverskilfuladroitcunningcraftywilyartfuldeviousOpposite crudeartless

   Word Origin Middle English (also in the sense ‘not easily understood’): from Old French sotil, from Latin subtilis.

   Derivatives

   • 1. subtleness noun

   Scrabble Points: 8

   • S

     1

   • U

     1

   • B

     3

   • T

     1

   • L

     1

   • E

     1

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