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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Recent Examples of subtlety
Emails and texts are devoid of all the subtlety of in-person communication.
—
Jay Sullivan, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
The script sounds like it was written with underlines for emphasis and no subtlety.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 8 Mar. 2025
In an era of rampant method dressing, Moore and her longtime stylist Brad Goreski ran a masterclass in subtlety.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 1 Mar. 2025
The resort’s exceptional staff anticipates guests’ needs with subtlety and grace, maintaining a nearly 5:1 staff-to-guest ratio that ensures no detail goes unnoticed.
—Ashlee Marie Preston, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtlety
Jay Sullivan, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
The script sounds like it was written with underlines for emphasis and no subtlety.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 8 Mar. 2025
In an era of rampant method dressing, Moore and her longtime stylist Brad Goreski ran a masterclass in subtlety.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 1 Mar. 2025
The resort’s exceptional staff anticipates guests’ needs with subtlety and grace, maintaining a nearly 5:1 staff-to-guest ratio that ensures no detail goes unnoticed.
—Ashlee Marie Preston, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtlety
Cite this Entry
“Subtlety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subtlety. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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