Sly and Subtle

Sly

Sly adjective - Clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means.
Usage example: the movie pairs a sly, dissembling ex-con with an upstanding, straight-arrow cop

Subtle is a synonym for sly in crafty topic. In some cases you can use "Subtle" instead an adjective "Sly", when it comes to topics like cunning, property, clever, tricky. archaic substitute

Nearby Words: slyness, slyly

Subtle

Subtle adjective - Clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means.
Usage example: used subtle methods of persuasion

Sly is a synonym for subtle in crafty topic. You can use "Sly" instead an adjective "Subtle", if it concerns topics such as character trait, cunning, clever, tricky. popular alternative

Nearby Words: subtlety, subtly, subtleness
Cite this Source
Subtle and Sly. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/sly/subtle
Sly & Subtle. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/sly/subtle>.
Subtle or Sly. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/sly/subtle.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "sly" and "subtle" have occurred on timeline