ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary BuilderWordsSsubtle
ISEE/SSATeasy
subtle
Meaning: not obvious; delicate or difficult to notice
subtle in a sentence
How subtle is used in real sentences:
The actor gave a subtle smile before answering.
There was a subtle difference between the two shades of blue.
“Its purpose became manifest after she brushed away the stamped words “property survey.” A subtle bend in the ruined fence, easy to miss among splintered boards, offered another clue, though its cause remained an enigma.”
— from the passage The Line Between Gardens
Synonyms for subtle
Other words for subtle — faint, delicate and nuanced — carry the same meaning.
- faint
- delicate
- nuanced
Antonyms of subtle
Words that mean the opposite of subtle:
- obvious
- blunt
- plain
Where it comes from
From Latin subtilis, meaning 'finely woven' or 'precise.'
Word parts
- sub — under
subtle: sub- (under) + til (fine weave)
Memory hook
The b in subtle is silent, just like a subtle clue can be easy to miss.