1. in a way that is delicate, elusive, or not immediately obvious
2. in a way that shows skill and cleverness

Examples

• She subtly hinted that she wanted to leave the party.
• The colors in the painting subtly blend together.
• He subtly changed the subject when asked about his grades.
• The lighting subtly enhanced the mood of the room.
• She subtly influenced the group’s decision without being pushy.
• The flavor was subtly different from what I expected.