subtle
(adjective)
LISTEN
The evening sky was subtle shades of blue and pink.
Subtle means ‘difficult to notice.’
- The subtle aroma of coffee brewing woke her husband.
- Hal has a subtle sense of humor, so it's difficult to know if he is joking.
- Sandy's subtle smile showed that she understood the joke.
Related words
subtly: in a subtle way. Example: “Leonard subtly changed the subject to avoid an argument.”
subtlety: quality of being subtle. Example: “The comedian’s sense of humor lacks subtlety.”
In pop culture
Listen to Marian Hill sing “It’s a Subtle Thing”
There are other meanings of subtle.
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