The subtle shift in ocean temperature, though barely perceptible, triggered a cascade of changes in the local marine ecosystem.
海洋温度的微妙变化虽然几乎难以察觉，却引发了当地海洋生态系统的连锁反应。
Which choice best defines “subtle”?
D — Not obvious, delicate. “subtle” means not obvious, delicate.
Which word means “not obvious, delicate”?
C — subtle. “subtle” means not obvious, delicate.
subtle — not obvious, delicate. In Chinese: 微妙的，巧妙的.
subtle is pronounced /ˈsʌtl/.
The subtle shift in ocean temperature, though barely perceptible, triggered a cascade of changes in the local marine ecosystem. (海洋温度的微妙变化虽然几乎难以察觉，却引发了当地海洋生态系统的连锁反应。)
delicate, faint, nuanced — all close in meaning to subtle (not obvious, delicate).
obvious, blatant — each the opposite of subtle (not obvious, delicate).
Yes. subtle is on the SAT Prep Easy list — mid-frequency academic words that do get tested. The Digital SAT does not test vocabulary in isolation; words like this one are tested through Words in Context questions, where you choose the word that completes a passage most logically and precisely.
subtle(refined)