Meanings
nounsubtleness (usually uncountable, plural subtlenesses)
plural subtlenesses
- uncountableusuallyThe property of being subtle, of avoiding brute force and instead being clever or skillful.
The movie was praised for the subtleness of its themes. None of it came off as being too preachy.
Origin
- Middle Englishsotilnes
- Englishsubtleness
From Middle English sotilnes; equivalent to subtle + -ness.
More words from Middle English
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Dutch subtiliteit
- subtiliteitproperty of being subtle
German Hintergründigkeit, Subtilität
- Hintergründigkeitproperty of being subtle
- Subtilitätproperty of being subtle
- Nuanciertheitproperty of being subtle
- Zwischentöneproperty of being subtle
Polish subtelność, delikatność
- subtelnośćproperty of being subtle
- delikatnośćproperty of being subtle
Cite this entry
APA
subtleness. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subtleness
MLA
“subtleness.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subtleness. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “subtleness,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subtleness.
Source: subtleness on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.