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subtlety

/səbˈtɛlti/  ·  say it: suh·TEL·tee

a fine, delicate distinction

In Nuance & Precision

In more detail

1. (noun) a small or delicate detail that is not obvious and requires careful attention to notice

2. (noun) the quality of being subtle; the ability to notice or understand small differences

3. (noun) something said or done in a clever but not direct way

Examples

• 1. The subtlety of the painting's colors creates a feeling of calm.
• 2. Her subtlety in conversation makes her good at diplomacy.
• 3. The joke relies on a cultural subtlety that many people might miss.

Nearby in Nuance & Precision

connotation, denotation, distinction, gradation, shade