1
: a subtle distinction or variation
Nuances of flavor and fragrance cannot be described accurately …—
Scott Seegers
… these terms have certain nuances of meaning …—Ben F. Nelms
2
: a subtle quality : nicety
… the nuances of an individual’s voice …—Michael Swaine
3
: sensibility to, awareness of, or ability to express delicate shadings (as of meaning, feeling, or value)
… a performance of remarkable pliability and nuance.—Irvine Kolodin
Did you know?
The history of nuance starts in Latin with the noun nūbēs, meaning «cloud.» Nūbēs floated into Middle French as nue, also meaning “cloud,” and nue gave rise to nuer, meaning “to make shades of color.” Nuer in turn produced nuance, which in Middle French meant “shade of color.” English borrowed nuance from French, with the meaning “a subtle distinction or variation,” in the late 18th century. That use persists today. Additionally, nuance is sometimes used in a specific musical sense, designating a subtle, expressive variation in a musical performance (such as in tempo, dynamic intensity, or timbre) that is not indicated in the score.
Did you know?
Although nuance is defined as «a subtle distinction or variation,» the adjective subtle is frequently seen modifying the noun:
Ms. Fyfield is remarkably thorough in her psychological profiles, giving subtle nuances to characters who are mere passers-by in this psychodrama.
Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review, 27 Aug. 1989Still, the beloved diva sustained exquisite control of her vast vocal resources, enriching line after line with gleaming tone and subtle nuance.
Martin Bernheimer, The Financial Times, 15 Nov. 2016
Since the definition of nuance already connotes subtlety—we don’t speak of blatant or obvious nuances—some might regard the use of subtle as a modifier here to be redundant. But the fact of its frequent use is an indication that the connotation of subtlety in nuance might itself be too subtle to be picked up by many English speakers.
Example Sentences
Between the lines of lexicographical nuance and quotation, Johnson was paying old debts and seeking out wisdom about himself and his adopted city, as well as compiling perhaps the greatest commonplace book in the history of mankind.
—Andrew O’Hagan, New York Review, 27 Apr. 2006
In every silky statement from General Musharraf about the need for a short—in other words: limited—war, and in every nuance of the Pakistani official posture, I was sure I detected the local version of Schadenfreude.
—Christopher Hitchens, Vanity Fair, January 2002
To La Farge, eccentricity meant convention; a mind really eccentric never betrayed it. True eccentricity was a tone—a shade—a nuance—and the finer the tone, the truer the eccentricity.
—Henry Adams, The Education of Henry Adams, 1907
He listened to the subtle nuances in the song.
a poem of little depth and nuance
Recent Examples on the Web
Many doctors don’t know enough about the nuances of migraine disorders, said Dr. Frederick Godley, an ear, nose and throat specialist and president of the Association of Migraine Disorders.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 29 Mar. 2023
Cheryl Bader, an associate clinical professor of law at Fordham University, told ABC News that such a move is common in white collar criminal investigations that involve looking at delicate nuances in the state law and require more time.
—Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 21 Mar. 2023
That was a cleverly conceptual affair with less focus on the nuances of Weill’s musical interpretation.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2023
Some of the best television shows are about whip-smart operators and the political nuances of their professional worlds.
—Joshua Alston, Variety, 17 Mar. 2023
And this may be a kind of starting point for collecting data on the nuances of customs and business culture in different countries.
—Alexander Konovalov, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2023
State laws can be lacking in addressing the nuances of parental relationships and the right to procreate, as the Heidemann case appears to suggest.
—Christine Hauser, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Mar. 2023
That latter phenomenon is where fashion really excels: finding the nuance in something and amplifying it.
—Rachel Tashjian, Harper’s BAZAAR, 6 Mar. 2023
Kurniawan’s novel provides nuance to what might just look, from the outside, like useless performances of aggression.
—Elise Hannum, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘nuance.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
French, from Middle French, shade of color, from nuer to make shades of color, from nue cloud, from Latin nubes; perhaps akin to Welsh nudd mist
First Known Use
1781, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of nuance was
in 1781
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Dictionary Entries Near nuance
Cite this Entry
“Nuance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nuance. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on nuance
Last Updated:
2 Apr 2023
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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1
nuances
Нюансы
Большой англо-русский и русско-английский словарь > nuances
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2
nuances
Универсальный англо-русский словарь > nuances
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3
nuances
Новый англо-русский словарь > nuances
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4
nuances
English-Russian smart dictionary > nuances
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5
nuances of technical projects
Универсальный англо-русский словарь > nuances of technical projects
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6
language wealthy in nuances
Универсальный англо-русский словарь > language wealthy in nuances
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7
language wealthy in nuances
Новый англо-русский словарь > language wealthy in nuances
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8
it is difficult to perceive all the nuances involved …
• трудно воспринять все предполагаемые нюансы…
English-Russian dictionary of phrases and cliches for a specialist researcher > it is difficult to perceive all the nuances involved …
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9
wealthy
Большой англо-русский и русско-английский словарь > wealthy
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10
wealthy
[ˈwelθɪ]
wealthy изобилующий, обильный (in); language wealthy in nuances выразительный язык wealthy богатый; состоятельный wealthy богатый wealthy изобилующий, обильный (in); language wealthy in nuances выразительный язык wealthy изобилующий wealthy обильный wealthy состоятельный
English-Russian short dictionary > wealthy
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11
нюансировать
Большой англо-русский и русско-английский словарь > нюансировать
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12
wealthy
1) бога́тый; состоя́тельный
2) изоби́лующий, оби́льный (in);
Англо-русский словарь Мюллера > wealthy
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13
wealthy
1. [ʹwelθı]
(the wealthy) собир.
богатые, богачи, имущие
2. [ʹwelθı]
1. богатый, состоятельный
wealthy man — богач; состоятельный человек
2. (in) обильный, изобилующий ()
language wealthy in nuances — язык, богатый оттенками
НБАРС > wealthy
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14
tome
1. том
2. книга,
особ.
большая (старинная), фолиант
The compiling of dictionaries has been historically the provenance of studious professorial types — usually bespectacled — who love to pore over weighty tomes and make pronouncements on the finer nuances of meaning.
Англо-русский универсальный дополнительный практический переводческий словарь И. Мостицкого > tome
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15
wealthy
adjective
1) богатый; состоятельный
2) изобилующий, обильный (in); language wealthy in nuances выразительный язык
Syn:
affluent, flush, loaded, opulent, prosperous, rich, successful
Ant:
destitute, insolvent, penurious, poor
* * *
1 (0) богатые
2 (a) богатый; изобилующий; имущие; обильный; состоятельный
* * *
богатый; состоятельный
* * *
[‘wealth·y || ‘welθɪ]
богатый, состоятельный, изобилующий, обильный* * *
богат
богатый
богачи
изобилующий
обильный
состоятельный
* * *
1) богатый
2) изобилующий, обильный (in)Новый англо-русский словарь > wealthy
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16
wealthy
1. n собир. богатые, богачи, имущие
2. a богатый, состоятельный
3. a обильный, изобилующий
Синонимический ряд:
1. abundant (adj.) abundant; ample; copious
2. rich (adj.) affluent; flush; moneyed; opulent; prosperous; rich; thriving; well-to-do
Антонимический ряд:
poor; poverty-stricken; scanty
English-Russian base dictionary > wealthy
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17
pickling tints
- оттенки травления
Англо-русский словарь нормативно-технической терминологии > pickling tints
См. также в других словарях:
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Nuances of a Theme by Williams — is a poem from Wallace Stevens s first book of poetry, Harmonium. Nuances of a Theme by Williams It s a strange courage You give me, ancient star: Shine alone in the sunrise toward which you lend no part! … Wikipedia
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nuances — nu·ance || nuË É‘ns /njuË É‘Ëns n. slight difference, subtle distinction … English contemporary dictionary
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En nuances, tout en nuances — ● En nuances, tout en nuances avec des différences, des particularités subtiles … Encyclopédie Universelle
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Personne sans nuances — ● Personne sans nuances d une raideur, d une intransigeance absolue … Encyclopédie Universelle
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nuance — [ nɥɑ̃s ] n. f. • 1380; de nuer vx « assortir », de nue 1 ♦ Chacun des degrés par lesquels peut passer une même couleur. ⇒ tonalité. Toutes les nuances de bleu. ⇒ gamme. « Le regard moderne sait voir la gamme infinie des nuances » (Maupassant). 2 … Encyclopédie Universelle
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nuancé — nuance [ nɥɑ̃s ] n. f. • 1380; de nuer vx « assortir », de nue 1 ♦ Chacun des degrés par lesquels peut passer une même couleur. ⇒ tonalité. Toutes les nuances de bleu. ⇒ gamme. « Le regard moderne sait voir la gamme infinie des nuances »… … Encyclopédie Universelle
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nuancer — [ nɥɑ̃se ] v. tr. <conjug. : 3> • fin XVIe; de nuance 1 ♦ Colorer en parcourant progressivement la gamme des nuances dans une couleur; assortir les nuances. Nuancer une couleur. Bleu nuancé de vert. 2 ♦ Faire passer graduellement d un état… … Encyclopédie Universelle
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délicat — délicat, ate [ delika, at ] adj. • 1492; lat. delicatus → 1. délié 1 ♦ Littér. Qui plaît par la qualité, la douceur, la finesse. Parfum délicat. Couleur, teinte délicate. Nourriture, cuisine délicate. ⇒ 2. fin, raffiné. Des plaisirs délicats. ⇒… … Encyclopédie Universelle
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nuance — (nu an s ) s. f. 1° Degré d augmentation ou de diminution que présente une même couleur ; différence ou changement des couleurs, surtout dans leur passage d un ton à un autre. • L opale et l incarnat qui parent le matin, Les couleurs d un… … Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d’Émile Littré
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COLORANTS — Les matières colorantes se caractérisent par leur capacité à absorber les rayonnements lumineux dans le spectre visible (de 400 à 700 nm). Tous les composés répondant à cette définition se différencient par leur structure chimique, organique ou… … Encyclopédie Universelle
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Elections municipales 2008 — Élections municipales françaises de 2008 Les élections municipales françaises de 2008 ont élu les conseils municipaux des communes françaises. Initialement programmées en 2007, les élections municipales françaises ont été reportées en 2008[1]… … Wikipédia en Français
nu·ance
(no͞o′äns′, nyo͞o′-, no͞o-äns′, nyo͞o-)
n.
1. A subtle or slight degree of difference, as in meaning, feeling, or tone; a gradation.
2. Expression or appreciation of subtle shades of meaning, feeling, or tone: a rich artistic performance, full of nuance.
tr.v. nu·anced, nu·anc·ing, nu·anc·es
To treat or consider with nuance; give nuances to: new information that nuanced their understanding of the situation.
[French, from Old French, from nuer, to shade, cloud, from nue, cloud, from Vulgar Latin *nūba, from Latin nūbēs.]
nu′anced adj.
Synonyms: nuance, gradation, shade
These nouns denote a slight variation or differentiation between nearly identical entities: sensitive to delicate nuances of style; gradations of feeling from infatuation to deep affection; subtle shades of meaning.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
nuance
(njuːˈɑːns; ˈnjuːɑːns)
n
a subtle difference in colour, meaning, tone, etc; a shade or graduation
vb (tr; passive)
to give subtle differences to: carefully nuanced words.
[C18: from French, from nuer to show light and shade, ultimately from Latin nūbēs a cloud]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
nu•ance
(ˈnu ɑns, ˈnyu-, nuˈɑns, nyu-)
n.
1. a subtle difference or distinction, as in meaning.
2. a slight variation in color or tone.
[1775–85; < French: shade, hue]
nu′anced, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Noun | 1. | nuance — 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»
meaning, signification, import, significance — the message that is intended or expressed or signified; «what is the meaning of this sentence»; «the significance of a red traffic light»; «the signification of Chinese characters»; «the import of his announcement was ambiguous» |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
nuance
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
nuance
noun
A slight variation between nearly identical entities:
The American Heritage® Roget’s Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
nuance
[ˈnjuːɑ̃ːns] N → matiz m
Collins Spanish Dictionary — Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
nuance
[ˈnjuːɑːns ˈnuːɑːns] n → nuance f
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
nuance
n → Nuance f; (of colour also) → Schattierung f; nuances of colour (Brit) or color (US) → Farbnuancen pl
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
(nuɑns ) Word forms: nuances. variable noun. A nuance is a small difference in sound, feeling, appearance, or meaning.
How do you explain nuance to a child? definition: a subtle quality or difference in tone, meaning, color, or the like; shade. He didn’t grasp the man’s true intentions because he failed to understand the nuances of what he was saying.
Likewise How do you use Nuance?
a very slight difference in meaning, sound, color, or someone’s feelings that is not usually very obvious He watched her face intently to catch every nuance of expression. Her singing has both warmth of sound and delicacy of nuance. You need to be able to convey the subtle nuances of meaning of each word.
What is nuance in a story? Lesson Summary
Nuance refers to slight and subtle differences in shades of meaning. It is sometimes difficult to understand, but there are two elements that contribute to nuance: connotation, or the ideas and feelings associated with a specific word and subtext, or what’s going on beneath the surface of the writing.
Is nuance a bad word?
Nuance is pretty much always seen as a good thing, since it acknowledges the variation and complexity of the world. When is nuance bad? A. … It is especially bad when you habitually make this your first move when deciding whether an idea or theory is any good.
Can a person have nuances? No. A person cannot be nuanced.
How do you say the word nuance?
What is the meaning of nuance in a sentence? Definition of Nuance. a subtle distinction or variation. Examples of Nuance in a sentence. 1. Please be quiet so I can hear every nuance of the song!
How do you write nuance?
What is a nuanced essay? A nuanced thesis explores the subtle differences, as opposed to being subtly different from another thesis. If it only looks at one ‘variant’, it’s not nuanced. If it looks at more than one, and explains why or how they are (subtly) different, it’s nuanced.
What is no nuance November on TikTok?
People on TikTok are participating in “No Nuance November,” a trend in which people share their opinions without any context. The trend was started by TikToker @abolish_ice, and has political origins.
What is the opposite of nuance? Opposite of a minor or fine distinction or detail. barefacedness. blatancy. brazenness. conspicuousness.
How do you use Nuance?
Nuance sentence example
- Because she is a chef, she notices every nuance of flavor in the meal. …
- He was aware of every nuance in her voice. …
- Look closely, and you will notice the nuance of color in the fall leaves. …
- Collin loves to analyze every little nuance of our conversation.
What is nuance in personality? : having nuances : having or characterized by subtle and often appealingly complex qualities, aspects, or distinctions (as in character or tone) a nuanced performance Whenever the movie focusses on Van Doren and Goodwin and Stempel, it treats them as nuanced human beings.
What type of word is nuance?
nuance NOO-ahnss noun. 1 : a subtle distinction or variation. 2 : a subtle quality : nicety. 3 : sensibility to, awareness of, or ability to express delicate shadings (as of meaning, feeling, or value)
What is a nuance of life? 1: a subtle distinction or variation. 2: a subtle quality. 3: sensibility to, awareness of, or ability to express delicate shadings.
How do you write a nuance essay?
generate a clear, convincing thesis with a claim, a reason, and a “so what?” • apply those thesis-building skills to ironic claims. identify and interpret irony in the arguments of others. use irony to strengthen their arguments. • have a more nuanced sense of the various ways to structure an argument.
What is social nuance? Nuance Social Media Engagement enables brands to listen to public Facebook and Twitter conversations and allows brands to interact with users through posts and comments, including Twitter Direct Messages.
How do you write a nuanced thesis?
generate a clear, convincing thesis with a claim, a reason, and a “so what?” • apply those thesis-building skills to ironic claims. identify and interpret irony in the arguments of others. use irony to strengthen their arguments. • have a more nuanced sense of the various ways to structure an argument.
How do you use nuance in a sentence? Nuanced sentence example
- This needs to be carefully nuanced ; illegal acts were not all regarded in the same way. …
- So the whole legal position is very, very nuanced .
What is a nuanced situation?
Definition of nuanced
: having nuances : having or characterized by subtle and often appealingly complex qualities, aspects, or distinctions (as in character or tone) a nuanced performance Whenever the movie focusses on Van Doren and Goodwin and Stempel, it treats them as nuanced human beings.
How old is Dutchdeccc? But in between working multiple jobs, the 24-year-old professionally-trained modern dancer has a bustling world all his own when he gets home to his apartment and opens TikTok. There, @Dutchdecc, as he’s known by fans on TikTok, has more than half a million followers and over 12 million likes.
What is November on TikTok?
The word “nuance” officially means “a subtle difference in shade of meaning, appearance or sound” and No Nuance November is a TikTok trend which involves people giving their own hot takes without context. The point of the trend is to be spicy, funny and to ignore the entire concept of nuance.
What is NNN mean on TikTok? NNN is an acronym that stands for “No Nut November.” If you’re wondering what that means, it’s basically a viral challenge that trends on social media every year and revolves around abstaining from sex and self-pleasure for the whole month of November.
These examples may contain rude words based on your search.
These examples may contain colloquial words based on your search.
And all of these seemingly minor nuances determine our personality.
И все эти, казалось бы, незначительные нюансы определяют нашу личность.
But remember that each level of shooting has its own nuances.
Но при этом помните, что каждый уровень съемки тоже имеет свои нюансы.
But here, not without nuances.
Но и здесь, надо сказать, не без нюансов.
It has many nuances that allow for a multi-layered conversation.
У него множество нюансов, которые позволяют вести разговор на многих уровнях.
Very detailed about all the nuances car rental in thailand.
Очень подробно обо всех нюансах аренды авто в Таиланде в моем посте.
On our site you have a great opportunity to understand the nuances of the selection of a font for a tattoo.
На нашем сайте у вас есть отличная возможность разобраться в нюансах подбора того или иного шрифта для тату.
However, as always, everything has its nuances.
Но, как обычно бывает, во всем есть свои нюансы.
Yet the nuances are as interesting as the overall direction.
При этом нюансы так же важны, как и в целом направление.
But there may be certain nuances that not everyone will like.
Но также есть и некоторые нюансы, которые возможно, не всем понравятся.
Nevertheless, they retain photos, elements of decoration and other graphic nuances.
Тем не менее, в них сохраняются фотографии, элементы художественного оформления и другие графические нюансы.
But here, not without nuances.
Однако, и здесь не обходится без нюансов.
We must work out the nuances mentioned and go ahead.
Дорабатываем эти нюансы, о которых было сказано, и двигаемся дальше.
Virginia law has many nuances not discussed here.
Закон аффинити имеет множество нюансов, которые здесь не рассматриваются.
Although there are nuances depending on the residence.
Хотя в зависимости от района проживания были, конечно, нюансы.
There are several nuances that should be known before growing lobelia at home.
Существует несколько нюансов, которые стоит знать перед тем, как выращивать лобелию в домашних условиях.
There are other nuances that impact us.
Так же есть еще нюансы, которые нас настораживают.
Think of all the nuances that may happen.
В нем указаны все нюансы, которые только могут случиться.
By calling our employees and discussing all the nuances.
Для оформления заявки нужно позвонить нашим операторам и обсудить все нюансы.
Also need to be considered and many small but significant nuances.
К тому же нужно учитывать множество малозаметных, но тем не менее, важных нюансов.
Do not forget to appreciate all the nuances.
Поэтому, не забудьте принять к сведению все эти нюансы.
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