[
UK
/sˈʌtəlti/
]
[ US /ˈsətəɫti/ ]
[ US /ˈsətəɫti/ ]
NOUN
-
the quality of being difficult to detect or analyze
you had to admire the subtlety of the distinctions he drew -
a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude
don't argue about shades of meaning
without understanding the finer nuances you can't enjoy the humor
How To Use subtlety In A Sentence
- I think that while full-on female displays will evoke an easy and instinctual hormone rush -- which, as I said, might be a good complement to a melee brawl -- most intelligent people will agree that some sort of subtlety in sexuality is appealing on more levels simultaneously. Archive 2008-02-01
- But this subtlety is swept aside in performances that are simply too hard-driven.
- Perhaps he went for his speed and energy as it can't be for his subtlety. The Sun
- Are there effluvia analogous to what we call odour: effluvia of extreme subtlety, absolutely imperceptible to us, yet capable of stimulating a sense-organ far more sensitive than our own? Social Life in the Insect World
- The subtlety of the fragmentary relics of ancient hominid fossil evidence was astonishing.
- Introspective interiorization and psychological subtlety are the inevitable by-products. The Times Literary Supplement
- At the very least, a VS store is a few steps above the Indian "hosiery" store where storekeeprs would shout "Ei namaa to opor theke ekta aath-threesh boudir jonne" (Ei throw down a 38 for "boudi" here) with all the subtlety of Shatabdi Express and where Gopal ganjee Random Thoughts of a Demented Mind
- A new way of imagining the song glimmers and vanishes before the chorus, as the subdued arrangement loses its subtlety and its way.
- At least there was now some quality in the hitting, even if subtlety remained notably absent.
- The numerous space and controlled organisations of poetic colours lend subtlety to his part collage-part paintings.