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Subtle vs Flagrant - What's the difference?

subtle | flagrant |

As adjectives the difference between subtle and flagrant

is that subtle is hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood; barely noticeable while flagrant is obvious and offensive, blatant, scandalous or flagrant can be (obsolete).

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

    * * * *

    flagrant

    English

    Alternative forms

    * flagraunt (qualifier)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) flagrant, from (etyl) flagrantem, present participle of . More at (l).

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Obvious and offensive, blatant, scandalous
  • * 1740, David Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature
    • It is certain, therefore, that in all our notions of morals we never entertain such an absurdity as that of passive obedience, but make allowances for resistance in the more flagrant instances of tyranny and oppression.
  • (archaic) On fire, flaming.
    • Synonyms
    * (obvious and offensive) blatant, glaring * (on fire) burning, flaming
    Related terms
    * in flagrante delicto

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete)
    • ----