Clues for the word "SUBTLE"
We've had 31 crossword clues used for this word, and seen it 64 times in crosswords. It was last seen in Evening Standard Cryptic crossword on February 16, 2026.
Definition of subtle
- superl. - Sly in design; artful; cunning; insinuating; subtile; -- applied to persons; as, a subtle foe.
- superl. - Cunningly devised; crafty; treacherous; as, a subtle stratagem.
- 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.
- superl. - Smooth and deceptive.
Referring Clues
- Nonobvious
- Not blatant
- Faint
- Understated
- Nuanced
- Understated
- Between-the-lines
- Hard to get
- Delicately suggestive
- Insidious
- Far from obvious
- Easy to overlook
- Barely perceptable
- Barely perceptible
- Full of nuance
- Not obvious
- Delicate, as a fragrance
- Hardly blunt
- Tenuous
- Abstruse
- Understated - discreetly clever
- Such distinctions are hard to see
- Ingenious
- Fuss when the first half goes the wrong way? It's fine
- Nice promotion of transport outlet
- Refined translation lacks it
- Bustle around, then faint
- Not immediately obvious
- Understated, fine
- While being unobtrusive, bustle around
- Delicate
Last Seen In
- Evening Standard Cryptic - February 16, 2026
- LA Times - February 15, 2026
- Daily American - January 21, 2026
- Penny Dell Daily - October 23, 2025
- Evening Standard Easy - September 10, 2025
- Daily American - January 25, 2025
- King Syndicate - Eugene Sheffer - January 02, 2025
- King Syndicate - Eugene Sheffer - December 05, 2024
- King Syndicate - Eugene Sheffer - June 24, 2024
- Evening Standard Easy - February 21, 2024
- Daily American - January 21, 2024
- King Syndicate - Eugene Sheffer - July 07, 2023
- Daily American - January 25, 2023
- Penny Dell Daily - January 22, 2018
- Daily American - January 21, 2018
- Wall Street Journal - January 10, 2018
- Evening Standard Easy - December 14, 2017
- Netword - November 29, 2017
- Pat Sajack's Code Letter - September 24, 2017
- Wall Street Journal - August 05, 2017
- King Syndicate - Eugene Sheffer - July 12, 2017
- Daily American - January 25, 2017
- USA Today - April 11, 2016
- Universal - October 31, 2015
- New York Times - October 26, 2015
- King Syndicate - Eugene Sheffer - July 27, 2013
- Guardian Speedy - November 04, 2012
- Universal - September 03, 2012
- Netword - July 09, 2012
- King Syndicate - Eugene Sheffer - November 23, 2011
- And in 34 more crossword puzzles...