nuance

[ noo-ahns, nyoo-, noo-ahns, nyoo-; French ny-ahns ]

noun

, plural nu·anc·es [noo, -ahn-siz, nyoo, -, noo-, ahn, -siz, nyoo-, n, y, -, ahns].

1. a subtle difference or distinction in expression, meaning, response, etc.

   Synonyms: refinement, nicety, subtlety, shading, shade

2. a very slight difference or variation in color or tone.

verb (used with object)

, nu·anced, nu·anc·ing.

1. to give nuance to; to color:

   She carefully nuanced her words, to put a positive spin on the situation.

nuance

/ njuːˈɑːns; ˈnjuːɑːns /

noun

1. a subtle difference in colour, meaning, tone, etc; a shade or graduation

verb

1. to give subtle differences to

   carefully nuanced words

nuance

1. A fine shade of meaning: “I liked the film, but I know I missed some of its nuances.”

Other Words From

• nu·anced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nuance¹

First recorded in 1775–85; from French: “shade, hue,” equivalent to nu(er) “to shade” (literally, “to cloud”), from unattested Vulgar Latin nūbāre, derivative of unattested nūba, for Latin nūbēs “cloud”) + -ance noun suffix; -ance

Word History and Origins

Origin of nuance¹

C18: from French, from nuer to show light and shade, ultimately from Latin nūbēs a cloud

Example Sentences

But German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who spoke with Trump following his election win, told German media that the incoming US leader had a "more nuanced" position on the war than was commonly assumed.

From BBC

Renaissance artwork depicted the nuances of human anatomy and pathology with remarkable accuracy, while Impressionism, Cubism, and other artistic movements utilized the unique features of human vision and perception to achieve artistic impact.

From Science Daily

Francis Jue’s Victory Lap: Seventeen years after he first appeared in “Yellow Face,” the veteran actor has returned with a nuanced performance as a blustery patriarch.

From New York Times

There is a lot of nuance on this issue.

From Salon

The trade-off between the risks and benefits of being tested is “very nuanced, very personal”, Prof Ahmed says, and what is acceptable to one man will be unacceptable to another.

From BBC

Related Words

• distinction
• gradation
• hint
• implication
• nicety
• refinement
• subtlety