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Sly vs Subtile - What's the difference?

sly | subtile | Synonyms |

Sly is a synonym of subtile.


As adjectives the difference between sly and subtile

is that sly is artfully cunning; secretly mischievous; wily while subtile is (obsolete) subtle.

As an adverb sly

is slyly.

sly

English

(Webster 1913)

Alternative forms

* (l) (obsolete)

Adjective

  • Artfully cunning; secretly mischievous; wily.
  • Dexterous in performing an action, so as to escape notice; nimble; skillful; cautious; shrewd; knowing; — in a good sense.
  • Done with, and marked by, artful and dexterous secrecy; subtle; as, a sly trick.
  • Light or delicate; slight; thin.

    • Synonyms

    * artful * cunning * knowing * sharp * crafty * shrewd * shifty * sly as a fox * slim * wily * See also

    Derived terms

    * sly as a fox * slyboots * slyness

    External links

    * *

    Adverb

  • Slyly.

    • Anagrams

    * ----

    subtile

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) subtle
  • * 1819 , , The Works of Francis Bacon , volume 2, page 2:
    • And sometimes this perception, in some kind of bodies, is far more subtile than the sense; so that the sense is but a dull thing in comparison of it: we see a weather-glass will find the least difference of the weather, in heat, or cold, when men find it not.

    Derived terms

    * subtile body

    External links

    * * ----