Subtly Meaning
/ˈsʌt.li/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
advWith subtleness, in a subtle manner; with cleverness rather than brute force.
Sentence Examples
Mary believes Tom is subtly using her gender to discredit her.
If you're going to point out Tom's mistakes, at least do it subtly.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The artist ____ changed the color so that the difference was barely visible.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She ____ changed the subject of the conversation when it became too uncomfortable for her to continue.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English sotilly; equivalent to subtle + -ly.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Nexte cometh Arrius by ſoo muche the more wretched and madde in opynyon, by howe muche he dothe more ſubtely and craftily geue unto Chriſt the body of a man, and taketh from hym the ſowle of a man, […]"
— 1533, Erasmus of Roterdame, “The Thyrde Instruction”, in William Marshall, transl., A Playne and Godly Exposytion or Declaration of the Commune Crede (which in the Latin Tonge is Called Symbolum Apostolorum): And of the .x. Commaundementes of Goddes Law. […], London: […] Robert Redman, […] [for William Marshall], →OCLC, folio 66, verso:
"For though Contraria iuxta ſe poſita magis illuceſcunt [opposites placed next to each other shine more brightly] (by an olde Rule) yet it hath beene ſubtilly, and indeede truely noted that our Sight, is not vvell contented, vvith thoſe ſudden departments, from one extreame to another; Therefore let them haue, rather a Duskiſh Tincture, then an abſolute blacke."
— 1624, Henry Wotton, The Elements of Architecture, […], London: […] Iohn Bill, →OCLC, II. part, page 104:
"As the world's drug habit shows, governments are failing in their quest to monitor every London window-box and Andean hillside for banned plants. But even that Sisyphean task looks easy next to the fight against synthetic drugs. No sooner has a drug been blacklisted than chemists adjust their recipe and start churning out a subtly different one."
— 2013 August 10, “A new prescription”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848, archived from the original on 09 Mar 2023:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The artist ____ changed the color so that the difference was barely visible.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She ____ changed the subject of the conversation when it became too uncomfortable for her to continue.