2 : clever and indirect : not showing your real purpose When it comes to giving criticism, sometimes it's best to take a subtle approach. He didn't seem to understand my subtle hints. It was her subtle way of telling me to mind my own business.
c : clever and indirect : disguised in purpose She turned to me and began asking questions, ignoring my subtle hints that I was busy. Clay Smith The negative labels [given to young people] are not-so-subtle propaganda. David Lipsky et al.
2 : having or involving keen perception or insight a subtle scholar the writer's subtle ear for dialogue a subtle understanding of human nature The success of many of the new vegetarian dishes depends on the heightened culinary intelligence, subtle sense of taste, and well-honed cooking skills that the current generation of hobby chefs has developed over the past decade. Jinx Morgan
5 : operating insidiously subtle poisons Ah, shallow as it is, yet, how subtle a thing is suspicion, which at times can invade the humanest of hearts and wisest of heads. Herman Melville
Other Words from subtle
Why is there a "b" in subtle?
If you know this word by sight, you might not know how to say it. And if you know it in conversation you might not know how to spell it.
For those of you in the first camp, we'll give you a hint: that "b" is subtle. So subtle, in fact, as to not be heard at all. It's a silent "b," like the "b" in thumb and debt. The word actually rhymes with shuttle.
And for those in the second camp: this is the word that sounds like it should be spelled "suttle."
So what is that pesky "b" doing there anyway? Is that sub at the beginning of the word related to the sub in submarine and subterranean?
Yes, it is. Subtle comes ultimately from a Latin pair: the prefix sub-, meaning "under," and tela, meaning "web." The two were joined in Latin subtilis, meaning "finely woven." The word was literal; it was originally a weaving term. But over time subtilis developed figurative uses, and was applied in many cases in which the word fine would work as well: to describe details, distinctions, and tastes, among other things.
When subtle came to first be used in Middle English its meaning was very much in this same lineage. It meant "perceptive, refined," and was used to describe people known for their clear thinkingsuch as philosophersand things, such as analysis or reasoning, that demonstrated such thinking.
One more thing about the spelling of subtle: like many words that have been in the language for centuries, this one took numerous forms before settling into its current spelling. Many of the forms didn't include the "b" at alland it's believed that the "b" was probably never pronounced in English. The "b" spellings that were used were a nod to the Latin subtilis. And much to the chagrin of those in favor of phonetic spellings today, one of them came out on top.
Examples of subtle in a Sentence
See More See MoreFirst Known Use of subtle
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4
History and Etymology for subtle
Middle English sotil, subtile, from Anglo-French, from Latin subtilis, literally, finely textured, from sub- + tela cloth on a loom; akin to Latin texere to weave more at technical
Cite this Entry
Subtle. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, //www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subtle. Accessed 7 Feb. 2022.
subtler\ ˈsət-lər \; subtlest\ ˈsət-ləst \
1 : difficult to perceive There was a subtle change in Miss Lavendar's voice. Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea