What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
subtle
Example
The changes to the recipe were subtle but made a big difference in the taste. [subtle: adjective]
Example
She used subtle persuasion techniques to convince her boss to give her a raise. [subtle: adjective]
crafty
Example
She was a crafty artist who could make beautiful sculptures out of any material. [crafty: adjective]
Example
The politician used crafty tactics to win the election, even though his policies were unpopular. [crafty: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Subtle is more commonly used than crafty in academic or artistic contexts, while crafty is more commonly used in everyday language to describe behavior or personality traits.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between subtle and crafty?
Subtle is generally considered more formal than crafty, which has a more colloquial or informal tone.
