subtle
Pronunciation
Adjective
B2 Upper-intermediate
Quick answer
Not obvious or easy to notice, often because it's delicate or indirect.
Synonyms and antonyms
Usage notes
"Subtle" has a silent "b", one of several English words where the spelling doesn't match the pronunciation.
Test yourself
Which word fits the gap? "There was a _____ change in his tone that only she picked up on."
Answer: subtle
In your own words, what does "subtle" mean?
Not obvious or easy to notice, often because it's delicate or indirect.
Learn next at B2
- suffrage The right to vote in political elections.
- summative assessment An evaluation given at the end of a unit or course to measure how much...
- superconductor A material that, below a certain very low temperature, conducts electr...
- supernova A massive explosion that occurs at the end of certain stars' lives, br...
- superposition The combination of two or more waves into a single pattern, or, in qua...
- supply chain The whole sequence of steps and companies involved in turning raw mate...