subtle

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"AI tools aren't 100% reliable — they can fail in subtle ways and yet operators continue to over-trust them," she told NBC News last month.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

As the sun sank, neighbors began banging spoons on metal pots from inside their homes, the subtle but unmistakable clank of government protests.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2026

If one looks carefully, its move could be a subtle dig at Tesla and Elon Musk.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

Although the study focused on fish, the findings suggest that tracking subtle daily behaviors such as movement and sleep, now commonly recorded by wearable devices, could provide insight into how aging progresses in humans.

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026

I moved relentlessly over the evening, back and forth, straining to remember exact words, telling inflections, any subtle insults or kindnesses I might’ve missed, and my mind—quite willingly—supplied various distortions.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt