subtlety
/ˈsʌt(ə)lti
/noun (plural subtleties) [mass noun]
1The quality or state of being subtle: the textural subtlety of Degas...
- They have many qualities, but subtlety is not their strong suit.
- At least there was now some quality in the hitting, even if subtlety remained notably absent.
- Let's have a bit of subtlety and sophistication here, qualities that postmodernists are always urging us to adopt.
Synonyms
delicacy, delicateness, subtleness, elusiveness, faintness;
understatedness, understatement, mutedness, softness
astuteness, keenness, acuteness, fineness, sharpness, razor-sharpness, sharp-wittedness, canniness, shrewdness, perceptiveness, perception, discernment, sensitivity, discrimination, penetration, percipience, perspicacity, perspicuity, acuity, sagacity, wisdom, cleverness, intelligence, skilfulness, skill, artfulness, dexterity, brightness, finesse
informal savvy
rare sapience
ingenuity, cleverness, skilfulness, expertise, adroitness, complexity, intricacy, cunning, guile, craftiness, wiliness, artfulness, deviousness
1.1 [count noun] A subtle distinction, feature, or argument: the subtleties of English grammar...
- Every time you go back to it, you can pick up different subtleties, nuances of flavour that you perhaps missed earlier.
- It was a mixture of the cheap yellow home-peroxided hair and their utter lack of humour, in all its subtleties and nuances.
- Finns also listen very carefully and easily pick up subtleties and nuances.
Synonyms
fineness, subtleness, precision, preciseness, niceness, nicety, nuance, shade, detail, slightness, minuteness, narrowness, tenuousness, indistinctness, indefiniteness, lack of definition, elusiveness
Origin
Middle English: from Old French soutilte, from Latin subtilitas, from subtilis 'fine, delicate' (see subtle).