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Subtle vs Calm - What's the difference?

subtle | calm |

As adjectives the difference between subtle and calm

is that subtle is hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood; barely noticeable while calm is peaceful, quiet, especially free from anger and anxiety.

As a noun calm is

the state of being calm; peacefulness; absence of worry, anger, fear or other strong negative emotion.

As a verb calm is

to make calm.

subtle

English

Alternative forms

* subtil (obsolete) * subtile (obsolete)

Adjective

(er)
  • Hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood; barely noticeable.
  • The difference is subtle , but you can hear it if you listen carefully.
  • (of a thing) Cleverly contrived.
  • (of a person or animal) Cunning, skillful.
  • insidious
  • * 1623 , , act iv, scene 4,
  • Thy age confirmed, proud, subtle , bloody, treacherous.
  • Tenuous; rarefied; of low density or thin consistency.
  • Synonyms

    * crafty, cunning, skillful * (insidious) insidious

    Antonyms

    * (hard to grasp) simple

    Derived terms

    * subtle body * subtleness * subtlety * subtly

    References

    * * *

    Anagrams

    * * * *

    calm

    English

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • (of a person) Peaceful, quiet, especially free from anger and anxiety.
  • (of a place or situation) Free of noise and disturbance.
  • (of water) with little waves on the surface.
  • Without wind or storm.
  • Synonyms

    * See also

    Antonyms

    * (free from anger and anxiety) stressed, nervous, anxious * (free of noise and disturbance) disturbed * (without wind or storm) windy, stormy

    Derived terms

    * calm as a millpond * ice-calm

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (in a person) The state of being calm; peacefulness; absence of worry, anger, fear or other strong negative emotion.
  • (in a place or situation) The state of being calm; absence of noise and disturbance.
  • A period of time without wind.
  • * Bible, Mark iv. 39
  • The wind ceased, and there was a great calm .

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * ice-calm

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make calm.
  • to calm a crying baby
    to calm the passions
  • * Dryden
  • to calm the tempest raised by Aeolus
  • To become calm.
  • Synonyms

    * calm down, cool off, ease, pacify, quieten, soothe, subdue

    Anagrams

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