Subtle1. (a.) Elusive; sly in design; insinuating; refined; as, a subtle difference.
2. (superl.) Cunningly devised; crafty; treacherous; as, a subtle stratagem.
3. (superl.) Characterized by refinement and niceness in drawing distinctions; nicely discriminating; -- said of persons; as, a subtle logician; refined; tenuous; sinuous; insinuating; hence, penetrative or pervasive; -- said of the mind; its faculties, or its operations; as, a subtle intellect; a subtle imagination; a subtle process of thought; also, difficult of apprehension; elusive.
4. (superl.) Smooth and deceptive.
Thesaurus Entries
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