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Subtle vs Sober - What's the difference?

subtle | sober |

As adjectives the difference between subtle and sober

is that subtle is hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood; barely noticeable while sober is not drunk; not intoxicated.

As a verb sober is

(often with up) To make or become sober.

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

    * * * *

    sober

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • not drunk; not intoxicated
  • not given to excessive drinking of alcohol
  • * Book of Common Prayer
    • a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of Thy holy name
  • moderate; realistic; serious; not playful; not passionate; cool; self-controlled
  • * Dryden
    • No sober man would put himself into danger for the applause of escaping without breaking his neck.
  • * 2005 , .
    • Which is the finest and soberest state possible.
  • dull; not bright or colorful
  • * Milton
    • Twilight grey / Had in her sober livery all things clad.
  • subdued; solemn; grave
  • * Prior
    • What parts gay France from sober Spain?
  • * Alexander Pope
    • See her sober over a sampler, or gay over a jointed baby.

    Synonyms

    * See also * See also * See also

    Antonyms

    * (not drunk) drunk

    Related terms

    * sobriety * sober as a judge

    See also

    * teetotaller

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (often with up ) To make or become sober.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, / And drinking largely sobers us again.
  • (often with up ) To overcome or lose a state of intoxication.
    • ''It took him hours to sober up .

    Anagrams

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