subtly
In understated fashion
Subtly means in a way that is not obvious or immediately noticeable.
A subtly flavored dish has delicate seasoning you might miss if you're not paying attention.
Someone subtly hinting at something avoids direct statement.
The word often describes skill in understatement—changes made subtly work without calling attention to themselves.
Note the silent b: it's pronounced "suttle-ee."
With little volume
- delicatelyIn a careful, subtle manner
- lightlyWith little weight
- faintlyIn a weak manner
- tenderlyWith gentle care
gently · mild · soft · featherlike · whisper · ethereal · silken · velvety
Indirect suggestion
- suggestOffer an idea indirectly
- implyIndicate without stating
- insinuateSuggest without directly stating
- alludeRefer indirectly
indirect · tacit · unspoken · underlying · innuendo · intimation · veiled · latent
Subtle, deft handling
- shadingDepicting light and darkness
- gradationIncremental transition between stages
- refinementElegance of manner
- distinctionNotable difference or honor
intricacy · complexity · sophistication · subtext · undertone · overtone · delicacy · precision
In an unobtrusive way
- tactfullyWith careful discretion
- restrainedHeld under control
- low-keyRestrained and understated
- unobtrusivelyWithout attracting attention
subdued · modestly · reserved · elegantly · minimalist · refined · unassumingly · measured
In furtive manner
- covertlyDone without detection
- surreptitiouslyIn a hidden manner
- furtivelyIn a secretive manner
- secretlyWithout others' knowledge
clandestinely · undetected · unseen · imperceptibly · stealthily · quietly · silently · invisibly
softly
With little volume
- delicatelyIn a careful, subtle manner
- lightlyWith little weight
- faintlyIn a weak manner
tenderly · gently · mild · soft · featherlike · whisper · ethereal · silken · velvety · airy
hint
Indirect suggestion
- suggestOffer an idea indirectly
- implyIndicate without stating
- insinuateSuggest without directly stating
allude · indirect · tacit · unspoken · underlying · innuendo · intimation · veiled · latent · unstated
finesse
Subtle, deft handling
- shadingDepicting light and darkness
- gradationIncremental transition between stages
- refinementElegance of manner
distinction · intricacy · complexity · sophistication · subtext · undertone · overtone · delicacy · precision · depth
discreetly
In an unobtrusive way
- tactfullyWith careful discretion
- restrainedHeld under control
- low-keyRestrained and understated
unobtrusively · subdued · modestly · reserved · elegantly · minimalist · refined · unassumingly · measured · quietly
sneakily
In furtive manner
- covertlyDone without detection
- surreptitiouslyIn a hidden manner
- furtivelyIn a secretive manner
secretly · clandestinely · undetected · unseen · imperceptibly · stealthily · quietly · silently · invisibly · unnoticed
subtlyobviously
In an apparent manner
blatantly · overtly · conspicuously · noticeably · distinctly
subtlyheavily
With great weight
strongly · forcefully · powerfully · intensely · drastically
subtlycrudely
In unrefined manner
crassly · coarsely · bluntly · heavy-handedly · ham-fistedly
- subtle cue
- subtle hintsUnderstated suggestions or cues
- subtle humorJokes not immediately obvious
- subtle difference
- subtle notes
- subtle discriminationCovert differential treatment
subtle, subtlety, unsubtle, subtler, subtleness, subtlest, unsubtly