subtilty

Noun

subtlety (countable and uncountable, plural subtleties)

1. The quality of being scarcely noticeable or difficult to discern. (of things)
   • the subtlety of the Mona Lisa’s smile
2. The quality of being done in a clever way that is not obvious or not direct; the quality of being carefully thought out. (of things)
   • the subtlety of a writer’s analysis / of a singer’s phrasing

   Synonyms:

   refinement

3. The quality of being able to achieve one's aims through clever, delicate or indirect methods. (of people)
   • With all his usual subtlety, he quietly fixed the problem before anyone else noticed it.

   Synonyms:

   discretion, finesse, savoir-faire

4. The quality of being able to notice or understand things that are not obvious. (of people)
   • To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 1:4

   Synonyms:

   acumen, perceptiveness, perspicacity

5. (countable) An instance of being subtle, a subtle thing, especially a subtle argument or distinction.
   • The subtleties of this overture are often overlooked.

   Synonyms:

   nicety, nuance

6. (countable, historical) An ornate medieval illusion dish or table decoration, especially when made from one thing but crafted to look like another.
   • At the king's coronation feast, several subtleties were served between main courses.

See all 10 meanings of subtlety