subtlety
noun
sub·tle·ty
ˈsə-tᵊl-tē 
plural subtleties
1
: the quality or state of being subtle
2
: something subtle
Synonyms
Examples of subtlety in a Sentence
The pianist performed with subtlety and passion.
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
Recent Examples on the Web
At first, the sheer splendor of it can feel a little overwhelming, but once the eye adjusts to all that shimmer and all that marble—sourced from all four corners of Africa, and even further beyond—the subtleties of the hotel’s opulent design scheme shine through.
—
Liam Hess, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2024
But the subtleties of the colors that make up that natural beauty are lost on nearly 300 million people around the world who are colorblind.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2024
Myriad references to influential painters from the ’60s and ’70s will be charming Easter Eggs to some, but the subtleties of her gradual adaptation to the 21st century art landscape might be lost on those who didn’t follow those changes in real time.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 29 July 2024
The subtleties and movement of the paint remain visible, creating a one-of-a-kind application that registers imperfections as part of its artistic appeal.
—Dalya Benor, Architectural Digest, 28 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for subtlety 
Liam Hess, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2024
But the subtleties of the colors that make up that natural beauty are lost on nearly 300 million people around the world who are colorblind.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2024
Myriad references to influential painters from the ’60s and ’70s will be charming Easter Eggs to some, but the subtleties of her gradual adaptation to the 21st century art landscape might be lost on those who didn’t follow those changes in real time.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 29 July 2024
The subtleties and movement of the paint remain visible, creating a one-of-a-kind application that registers imperfections as part of its artistic appeal.
—Dalya Benor, Architectural Digest, 28 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for subtlety
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'subtlety.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near subtlety
Cite this Entry
“Subtlety.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subtlety. Accessed 17 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
subtlety
noun
sub·tle·ty
ˈsət-ᵊl-tē
plural subtleties
1
: the quality or state of being subtle
2
: something subtle
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