adj. 1
Senses relating to intangible things. Giving only a slight impression; elusive, indistinct; also, skilfully restrained or understated.
The difference between the tones is subtle, but you can hear it if you listen carefully.
adj. 2
Senses relating to intangible things. Of a person, their intellect or mind, etc.: discerning, perceptive, shrewd, wise.
adj. 3
Senses relating to intangible things. Of a person or animal, or of an action or words: clever or skilful in a crafty or devious way; cunning, sly, wily.
adj. 4
Senses relating to tangible things. Of an action or movement: very delicate or slight, and thus barely noticeable; not obvious; inconspicuous, unintrusive.

Related words

Example sentences

deep The snow is very deep here in our town in January.
profound The audience was impressed by his profound lecture.
sly She looked at me with a sly smile on her face.
artful Tom is such an artful dodger that he always finds a way to get out of trouble.
vague I deal in facts and figures, not vague impressions.
insidious It's a dangerous and insidious animal.

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

3 letters: sly¹
4 letters: nice¹, fine¹, deep¹, wise¹, arch¹, slim¹, airy², foxy², wily²
5 letters: vague¹, snaky
6 letters: tricky², crafty², astute², shrewd¹, artful²
7 letters: obscure², refined², cunning², elusive³, devious³, politic³, tricksy, subtile
8 letters: delicate³, profound², ethereal⁴
9 letters: insidious⁴, sagacious
10 letters: diplomatic⁴, pernicious³
11 letters: sophistical
14 letters: discriminating⁵

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (airy² = 2 syllables).