The meaning of SUBTLY is in a subtle manner : with subtlety : so as to be subtle. How to use subtly in a sentence.

When you do something subtly, you do it quietly and indirectly — like subtly criticizing your mom's choice of beachwear. If you smile subtly, it's a small, mysterious, Mona Lisa-type smile rather than a wide, …

SUBTLY definition: 1. in a way that is small and difficult to notice or describe, but important: 2. in a way that is…. Learn more.

1. faint or delicate in quality, and therefore difficult to describe or explain.

Definition of subtly adverb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Apr 17, 2026 · Adverb subtly (comparative more subtly, superlative most subtly) With subtleness, in a subtle manner; with cleverness rather than brute force.

Mar 4, 2026 · The word “subtly” means in a manner that is delicate or not obvious. For example, you might say, “She smiled subtly when she saw her friend enter the room,” indicating her smile was …