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Stealth vs Subtle - What's the difference?

stealth | subtle |

As a noun stealth

is the attribute or characteristic of acting in secrecy, or in such a way that the actions are unnoticed or difficult to detect by others.

As an adjective subtle is

hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood; barely noticeable.

stealth

English

Noun

  • (uncountable) The attribute or characteristic of acting in secrecy, or in such a way that the actions are unnoticed or difficult to detect by others.
  • (archaic, countable) An act of secrecy, especially one involving thievery.
  • * 1877 , George Hill, An Historical Account of the Plantation in Ulster at the Commencement of the Seventeenth Century , M'Caw, Stevenson & Orr, page 352:
    • [The King] thinks it fit[...] that restitution according to this order be made to the petitioners for stealths committed upon them last winter (273).

    Related terms

    * steal

    Derived terms

    * stealth bomber * stealth fighter * stealthy

    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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