What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
subtly
Example
She subtly hinted at her displeasure with the situation. [subtly: adverb]
Example
The artist used subtle shades of color to create a calming effect. [subtle: adjective]
covertly
Example
The spy covertly infiltrated the enemy's headquarters. [covertly: adverb]
Example
The company engaged in covert operations to gain a competitive advantage. [covert: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Subtly is more commonly used than covertly in everyday language. Subtly is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while covertly is more specific and tends to be used in more specialized or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between subtly and covertly?
Both subtly and covertly are formal words that are typically used in professional or academic contexts. However, covertly may be considered more formal due to its association with espionage or intelligence gathering.
