微妙な定義と意味 | Dictionary.com

SUBTLE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com Synonyms subtle American [ suht -l] / ˈsʌt l / adjective subtler, subtlest thin, tenuous, or rarefied, as a fluid or an odor. fine or delicate in meaning or intent; difficult to perceive or understand. subtle irony. delicate or faint and mysterious. a subtle smile. requiring mental acuteness, penetration, or discernment. a subtle philosophy. characterized by mental acuteness or penetration. a subtle understanding. cunning, wily, or crafty. a subtle liar. Synonyms: slick , foxy , tricky , sly insidious in operation. subtle poison. skillful, clever, or ingenious. a subtle painter. subtle British / ˈsʌtəl / adjective not immediately obvious or comprehensible difficult to detect or analyse, often through being delicate or highly refined a subtle scent showing or making or capable of showing or making fine distinctions of meaning marked by or requiring mental acuteness or ingenuity; discriminating delicate or faint a subtle shade cunning or wily a subtle rogue operating or executed in secret a subtle intrigue "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Other Word Forms hypersubtle adjective hypersubtleness noun nonsubtle adjective nonsubtleness noun oversubtle adjective pseudosubtle adjective subtleness noun subtly adverb unsubtle adjective unsubtleness noun Etymology Origin of subtle First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English sotil, from Old French, from Latin subtīlis “subtile” (the b of modern spelling is from Latin ); see subtile Explanation Something that is subtle is not obvious: a professional food taster might be able to perceive subtle differences of flavor that most people don't notice. Subtle is used for things that are hard to describe because of their complexity or delicacy: a way of thinking, arguing, or creating a work of art. The word is pronounced like "suttle" and it was originally spelled that way when it was borrowed from Old French, but the b got imported to make the word look more like its ultimate source, the Latin adjective subtilis . But don't pronounce the b — that won't be very subtle! Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com Vocabulary lists containing subtle 100 Top "SAT" Words Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide! Latin Root "sub" Words Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use! The Silent Treatment: Words Plagued by Silent Letters Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time! Example Sentences Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com. Part of the problem is that many of the subtle land formations scientists need to study to uncover evidence of past quakes have already been built over. From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026 "Unfortunately, this right is often violated — sometimes blatantly, sometimes in more subtle ways," he said. From Barron's • May 3, 2026 Here again, the King's message was both robust and at the same time, a subtle reminder to the US president of the merits of the alliance. From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026 "Because the two species were capable of producing offspring together, their interactions were likely complex, involving competition, occasional interbreeding and other subtle population dynamics." From Science Daily • Apr. 28, 2026 The bit about the ghost trying to look at itself in the river of death is a subtle touch which is quite characteristic of him and quite unlike any Greek writer. From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton Related Words exquisite faint indirect ingenious profound slight sophisticated understated Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023 Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.