Term Gallery logo

Meanings of subtle in English

Working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way.

Related terms

Neither clear nor manifest to the understanding.

Difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze.

Related terms

Subtle.

Related terms
Synonyms
Examples for "elusive"
Examples for "elusive"
1
Extra profit from two companies selling each others' products often proves elusive.
Reuters
2
Aims: Effective prevention of recurrent pericarditis remains an important yet elusive goal.
Pubmed
3
However, a sale has proven elusive amid cost and technology transfer issues.
Reuters
4
Exactly where Megrahi fits into the elusive story is not absolutely clear.
The Guardian
5
The neural basis for the addictive nature of benzodiazepines, however, remains elusive.
Pubmed
Usage of subtle in English
1
But notice the subtle change in the form the second question takes.
Wired
2
That said; a slightly inflexible approach could hamper progress in subtle ways.
The South African
3
Questions don't come any more subtle than how to get democracy right.
The Irish Times
4
Or was your question a subtle way of asking whether I'm married?
The Sails of Tau Ceti
5
New beginnings and second chances could develop on a very subtle level.
The South African
6
A study published last year suggests their effects might be subtle only.
BBC
7
However, the manufacturers listed the side-effects simply as subtle discomfort or irritation.
Radio NZ
8
I'd use some really subtle magic, make it look like natural causes.
From hell with love
9
The effect of human activity on our climate is no longer subtle.
The South African
10
The film addresses the revolution in a very subtle way, she said.
Reuters
11
All of this created a subtle change in the American mind set.
The 5000 year leap: a miracle that changed the world
12
However, a subtle shift is occurring in the nature of their deployment.
The Irish Times
13
It's light and lively and brilliantly subtle, yet has terrific staying power.
The Irish Times
14
However, the effects that we observe are subtle and variable between loci.
Pubmed
15
Public awareness campaigns also have been increasing, with messages becoming less subtle.
Reuters
16
Quickwater made a subtle gesture, first to his right, then straight ahead.
Deadly Décisions
About this term
More collocations
Subtle through the time
Subtle across language varieties
South Africa
Common
Australia
Common
Ireland
Common
More variants