Definition of subtle Subtle

/sʌˈtʌl/ - [sutul] - sub•tle

We found 17 definitions of subtle from 6 different sources.

What does subtle mean?

Adjective subtle, subtler, subtlest
subtle - able to make fine distinctions; "a subtle mind"
subtle - difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze; "his whole attitude had undergone a subtle change"; "a subtle difference"; "that elusive thing the soul"
		elusive
		impalpable imperceptible to the senses or the mind; "an impalpable cloud"; "impalpable shadows"; "impalpable distinctions"; "as impalpable as a dream"
subtle - working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way; "glaucoma is an insidious disease"; "a subtle poison"
		insidious, pernicious
		harmful causing or capable of causing harm; "too much sun is harmful to the skin"; "harmful effects of smoking"

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subtle (Adjective)
Hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood; barely noticeable.
subtle (Adjective)
Cleverly contrived.
subtle (Adjective)
Cunning, skillful.
subtle (Adjective)
insidious.
subtle (Adjective)
Tenuous; rarefied; of low density or thin consistency.

subtle (superl.)
Sly in design; artful; cunning; insinuating; subtile; -- applied to persons; as, a subtle foe.
subtle (superl.)
Cunningly devised; crafty; treacherous; as, a subtle stratagem.
subtle (superl.)
Characterized by refinement and niceness in drawing distinctions; nicely discriminating; -- said of persons; as, a subtle logician; refined; tenuous; sinuous; insinuating; hence, penetrative or pervasive; -- said of the mind; its faculties, or its operations; as, a subtle intellect; a subtle imagination; a subtle process of thought; also, difficult of apprehension; elusive.
subtle (superl.)
Smooth and deceptive.

subtle
Working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way.
subtle
fein [raffiniert, schlau, subtil] \t\n\tfine {adj}\t\nfein \t\n\tfinely {adv}\t\nfein \t\n\tdainty {adj}\t\n398\nfein [zart] \t\n\tdelicate {adj} [subtle]\t\n376\nfein [zart, dezent] \t\n\tkeen {adj} [highly sensitive]\t\n334\nfein [Sinne] \t\n\tdecent {adj} [person]\t\n318\nfein [anständig] \t\n\tdelicately {adv}\t\n304\nfein \t\n\taccurate {adj} [precise, exact]\t\n304\nfein [genau] \t\n\tsubtly {adv}\t\n112\nfein [subtil] \t\n\tgenteel {adj}\t\n87\nfein [vornehm, elegant] \t\n\tdelicious {adj}\t\n64\nfein [köstlich, lecker] \t\n\twispy {adj}\t\n55\nfein [dünn, zerbrechlich] \t\n\tnice {adj}\t\n35\nfein \t\n\tbeautiful {adj}\t\n24\nfein \t\n\ttenuous {adj}\t\n24\nfein [Faden etc.] \t\n\t\nsociol.\nclassy {adj} [coll.]\t\n23\nfein \t\n\tpretty {adj}\t\n20\nfein \t\n\tchoice {adj}\t\n12\nfein [erlesen] \t\n\tposh {adj} [coll.]\t\n12\nfein [vornehm, nobel] [auch pej.] \t\n\tGreat!\t\n11\nFein! \t\n\tgentlemanly {adj} {adv}\t\n5\nfein [vornehm] \t\n\tgoodly {adj} [archaic]\tfein [exzellent, gut] \t\n\tdiscriminating {adj} [taste]\tfein [Geschmack] \t\n\tacute {adj} [keen, sensitive]\tfein [scharf] \t\n\tindeed {adv}\tfein [südd.] [regional] [selten] [geschriebene Variante des 'fei']
subtle
Neither clear nor manifest to the understanding.

subtle
sut′l (B. Sub′til), adj. subtile in a figurative sense: acute, quick to discern or discriminate: insinuating, sly, artful: cunningly devised, ingenious.—ns. Subt′leness, Subt′lety, quality of being subtle: artfulness: shrewdness: extreme acuteness.—adj. Subt′le-wit′ted, sharp-witted.—adv. Subt′ly (B. Sub′tilly), ingeniously, cleverly: artfully, deceitfully. [Contr. of subtile.]