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Refined vs Subtle - What's the difference?

refined | subtle |

As adjectives the difference between refined and subtle

is that refined is showing or having good feelings or good taste while subtle is hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood; barely noticeable.

As a verb refined

is (refine).

refined

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Showing or having good feelings or good taste.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers)
    • , chapter=5, title= A Cuckoo in the Nest , passage=The most rapid and most seductive transition in all human nature is that which attends the palliation of a ravenous appetite.
  • An absence of coarseness.
  • Not vulgar.
  • Without impurities.

    • Verb

    (head)
  • (refine)
    • The raw petroleum was refined into kerosene.

    Anagrams

    *

    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

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    Anagrams

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