1. comparative form of subtle; more difficult to perceive or understand
2. comparative form of subtle; more skillful or clever in a way that is not immediately obvious

Examples

• Her second painting showed subtler use of color than her first.
• The wine had subtler flavors that emerged after it had time to breathe.
• His subtler approach to negotiation proved more effective than aggressive tactics.
• The author’s subtler hints about the character’s past were easy to miss.
• She used subtler methods to influence the committee’s decision.
• The differences between the two theories are subtler than they first appear.