How do you use the word "subtle" in a sentence?

Q: How do you use the word "subtle" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "subtle": There are subtle differences between the two things. There's a subtle difference in meaning between the two words.

Subtle Meaning

/ˈsʌtl̩/

Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

adjSenses relating to tangible things.

adjSenses relating to tangible things., Of an action or movement: very delicate or slight, and thus barely noticeable; not obvious; inconspicuous, unintrusive.

Sentence Examples

There are subtle differences between the two things.

There's a subtle difference in meaning between the two words.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

elusive perceptive pernicious

Antonyms:

None

CEFR Practice Quiz

The chef added a ____ hint of garlic that most diners could not detect.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

There was a very ____ hint of vanilla in the cake that made it taste much better than the regular ones.

Word Origin & History

The adjective is derived from Middle English sotil, soubtil, subtil (“of a person, the mind, etc.: clever, ingenious, penetrating; cunning, sly; insidious; delicate, fine; not dense, light, thin; finely powdered; narrow, slender; etc.”), borrowed from Anglo-Norman sotel, subtil, sutil, Middle French soutil, subtil, sutil, and Old French sotil, soutil, subtil, sutil (“of an object: skilfully designed or made; delicate, fine; slender, thin; of an intangible thing: difficult to understand; of a person: discerning, shrewd; devious, sly; etc.”) (modern French subtil), from Latin subtīlis (“of texture: delicate, fine; slender, thin; accurate, keen; having fine judgment; etc.”), from sub (“below, under”) + tēla (“warp (threads running lengthwise in a loom); web”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *tetḱ- (“to create, produce; to cut, hew”), from *teḱ- (“to beget, sire”)). The word displaced Old English smēag (literally “creeping”). The modern and Middle English (and French) spellings with -b- are influenced by Latin subtīlis; the letter was probably never pronounced. The noun is derived from Middle English sotil, soubtil, subtil (“wise person; sophisticated people collectively”), from the adjective.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"Although the show gradually grows more subtle, much of the early writing that establishes the characters is so on the nose it hurts. Any time we see Walt [Walter White] in class, it’s certain that what he writes on the chalkboard will echo events in his secret life." — 2013 August 12, Stephen Bowie, “The Case against Breaking Bad”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 15 Nov 2019:

"[T]his heauenly foode is giuen for the ſatisfying of our emptie ſoules, and not for the exerciſing of our curious and ſubtle vvits." — 1597, Richard Hooker, “Of the Sacrament of the Body & Bloud of Christ”, in J[ohn] S[penser], editor, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], 2nd edition, London: […] Will[iam] Stansby [for Matthew Lownes], published 1611, →OCLC, book V, page 359:

"Lords and Commons of England, conſider vvhat Nation it is vvherof ye are, and vvherof ye are the governours: a Nation not ſlovv and dull, but of a quick, ingenious, and piercing ſpirit, acute to invent, ſuttle and ſinevvy to diſcours, not beneath the reach of any point the higheſt that human capacity can ſoar to." — 1644, John Milton, Areopagitica; a Speech of Mr. John Milton for the Liberty of Unlicenc’d Printing, to the Parlament of England, London: [s.n.], →OCLC, page 30:

"VVhen ſubtle VVits have ſpun their thred too fine, / Tis vveak and fragile like Arachnes line: […]" — 1668, John Denham, “The Progress of Learning”, in Poems and Translations, with The Sophy, London: […] [John Macock] for H[enry] Herringman […], →OCLC, page 183:

"[Tomaso] Malvenda, a Spaniſh divine, vvho took the conduct of the debate on the part of the Catholics, managed it vvith all the ſubtle dexterity of a ſcholaſtic metaphyſician, more ſtudious to perplex his adverſaries than to convince them, and more intent on palliating error than on diſcovering truth." — 1769, William Robertson, “Book VII”, in The History of the Reign of the Emperor Charles V. […], volume III, London: […] W. and W. Strahan, for W[illiam] Strahan, T[homas] Cadell, […]; and J. Balfour, […], →OCLC, pages 62–63:

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