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Subtle vs Discerning - What's the difference?

subtle | discerning | Related terms |

As adjectives the difference between subtle and discerning

is that subtle is hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood; barely noticeable while discerning is of keen insight or good judgement; perceptive.

As a verb discerning is

present participle of lang=en.

As a noun discerning is

discernment.

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

    * * * *

    discerning

    English

    Verb

    (head)

    • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of keen insight or good judgement; perceptive.

    • Related terms

    * discern

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • discernment
  • * 1605 , , I. iv. 224:
    • Either his notion weakens, his discernings / Are lethargied

    Anagrams

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