Word Explorer

Subtle

/ˈsʌt(ə)l/

Hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood; barely noticeable.

📖 Definitions of "Subtle"

adjective

1
Hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood; barely noticeable.
"The difference is subtle, but you can hear it if you listen carefully."
2
(of a thing) Cleverly contrived.
3
(of a person or animal) Cunning, skillful.
4
Insidious.

7 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
insidious	Causing harm in a stealthy, often gradual, manner.
delicatenoun	Easily damaged or requiring careful handling.
pernicious	Causing much harm in a subtle way.
perceptive	Having or showing keenness or sharpness of perception, insight, understanding, or intuition.
elusive	Evading capture, comprehension or remembrance.
harmful	Causing or likely to cause harm or damage; injurious.
impalpable	Incapable of being touched or felt; incorporeal, intangible.

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
elusive	Evading capture, comprehension or remembrance.
insidious	Causing harm in a stealthy, often gradual, manner.
pernicious	Causing much harm in a subtle way.
delicate	Easily damaged or requiring careful handling.
impalpable	Incapable of being touched or felt; incorporeal, intangible.
perceptive	Having or showing keenness or sharpness of perception, insight, understanding, or intuition.
harmful	Causing or likely to cause harm or damage; injurious.
hidden	Located or positioned out of sight; not visually apparent.
discreet	Respectful of privacy or secrecy; exercising caution in order to avoid causing embarrassment; quiet; diplomatic.
minor	Lesser, smaller in importance, size, degree, seriousness, or significance compared to another option, particularly:
secretive	Having an inclination to secrecy.
low-profile	Not clearly attracting attention; inconspicuous.
slight	Minor; small in amount
sly	Artfully cunning; secretly mischievous; wily.
discrete	Separate; distinct; individual; non-continuous.
stealthy	Characterized by or resembling stealth or secrecy.
cunning	Sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour.
small	Not large or big; insignificant; few in number.
tricky	Hard to deal with, complicated.
quiet	With little or no sound; free of disturbing noise.