Subtle vs Inconspicuous - What's the difference?
subtle | inconspicuous |
Hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood; barely noticeable.
(of a thing) Cleverly contrived.
(of a person or animal) Cunning, skillful.
insidious
* 1623 , , act iv, scene 4,
Tenuous; rarefied; of low density or thin consistency.
Not prominent nor easily noticeable
* 2004 , , Let's Collect Rocks and Shells , Kessinger Publishing Co., page 9,
As adjectives the difference between subtle and inconspicuous
is that subtle is hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood; barely noticeable while inconspicuous is not prominent nor easily noticeable.subtle
English
Alternative forms
* subtil (obsolete) * subtile (obsolete)Adjective
(er)- The difference is subtle , but you can hear it if you listen carefully.
- Thy age confirmed, proud, subtle , bloody, treacherous.
Synonyms
* crafty, cunning, skillful * (insidious) insidiousAntonyms
* (hard to grasp) simpleDerived terms
* subtle body * subtleness * subtlety * subtlyReferences
* * *Anagrams
* * * *inconspicuous
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- Approaching danger, whether from octopus, fish or man, arouses caution in a small mollusk and it becomes as inconspicuous as it can.