subtlety

/ˈsʌtlti/ (bre, ipa) · [sˈʌtəlti] /ˈsʌtlti/ (ame, ipa) · [sˈʌtəlti] /ˈsə-tᵊl-tē How to pronounce subtlety (audio)/ (ame, mw)

subtlety — noun

  • subtletysingular
  • subtletiesplural

1. the ability to express, handle, or design something in a clever way that is gent

1.名詞C1
釋義

the ability to express, handle, or design something in a clever way that is gentle and not obvious at once.

例句

Hoa admired the subtlety of the film's final smile.

the subtlety of + expression or artistic choice

The chef showed subtlety by adding lemon instead of more salt.

show subtlety by + -ing

同義詞
  • delicacy

    stresses fineness and light touch more than cleverness.

  • finesse

    suggests skilful handling, especially in performance or social situations.

  • tact

    narrower; mainly about speaking carefully to avoid offence.

反義詞
  • bluntness

    directness that lacks a gentle or delicate touch.

  • heaviness

    an obvious, overdone quality instead of a light one.

文法句型

the subtlety of her reply

show subtlety in design

lack subtlety

用法筆記

Usually singular and often followed by an of-phrase naming speech, art, taste, or behaviour. Unlike sense 2, this sense describes the overall delicate way something is done, not one separate point inside it.

常見錯誤

❌Her speech had many subtlety.
✅Her speech had a lot of subtlety.
💡Use subtlety as an uncountable noun when you mean the overall quality.

2. a slight feature, shade of meaning, or difference that seems minor at first but

2.名詞C1
釋義

a slight feature, shade of meaning, or difference that seems minor at first but turns out to matter.

例句

Nkechi caught a subtlety in the email that everyone else missed.

catch a subtlety in + message

The lawyer explained the subtleties of the lease to Aarav.

the subtleties of + rules or document

同義詞
  • detail

    the broad everyday word; it does not always suggest hidden importance.

  • nuance

    often used for slight differences in meaning, feeling, or style.

  • fine point

    especially used for rules, arguments, or technical distinctions.

反義詞
  • main point

    the central idea rather than a small distinction.

  • overview

    a broad picture that leaves out the finer details.

文法句型

notice a subtlety in the text

the subtleties of the law

miss a subtlety

用法筆記

Often appears in the plural when someone is studying language, law, humour, or a plan in detail. Unlike sense 1, this sense points to one specific detail or distinction rather than an overall delicate quality.

常見錯誤

❌I missed the subtletys in the contract.
✅I missed the subtleties in the contract.
💡The plural form changes to subtleties.