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Subtle vs Mysterious - What's the difference?

subtle | mysterious |

As adjectives the difference between subtle and mysterious

is that subtle is hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood; barely noticeable while mysterious is of unknown origin.

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

    * * * *

    mysterious

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of unknown origin.
    • He received a mysterious phone call this morning.
  • Having unknown qualities.
    • Our boss is a mysterious man who hardly ever meets with us.
  • Difficult to understand.
    • Why he left without saying goodbye is quite mysterious .
  • Deliberately evasive or enigmatic.
    • Stop being mysterious and just tell me what you want.

    Derived terms

    * mysteriously * mysteriousness

    Related terms

    * mystery