ˈnaɪsnɪs ˈnaɪsɪti ˈnjuː.ɑːns ˈnuː.ɑːns ɹəˈfaɪnmənt ˈsʌt(ə)lti the quality of being difficult to detect or analyze you had to admire the subtlety of the distinctions he drew a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude without understanding the finer nuances you can't enjoy the humor don't argue about shades of meaning