Cunning
Cunning adjective - Clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means.
Usage example: a cunning, underhanded plan to win the election by preying on people's fears and prejudices
Subtle is a synonym for cunning in crafty topic. In some cases you can use "Subtle" instead an adjective "Cunning", when it comes to topics like property, character trait, ingenious, imaginative. archaic substitute
Nearby Word: cunningly
Subtle
Subtle adjective - Clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means.
Usage example: used subtle methods of persuasion
Cunning is a synonym for subtle in character trait topic. You can use "Cunning" instead the word "Subtle" as an adjective or a noun, if it concerns topics such as crafty, ingenious, cat-like. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
- Someone named after a bear will tend to be rough, aggressive, and not subtle at all, while one named after a snake will tend to be more sneaky and cunning.
Source: Animal Theme Naming
Cite this Source
Subtle and Cunning. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/cunning/subtle
Cunning & Subtle. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/cunning/subtle>.
Subtle or Cunning. 2016. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/cunning/subtle.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "cunning" and "subtle" have occurred on timeline