Hi,
Despite the definition below, I’m having trouble understanding exactly how the word “nuance” is used in the following examples.
*a subtle difference or distinction in expression, meaning, response, etc. 2. a very slight difference or variation in color or tone.
Not necessarily.
The reply made subtle distinctions, or considered many different factors or attributes of the subject to be discussed. The reply was not phrased in absolute terms (ie, it didn’t use always/never or equivalents). There’s an implication that the reply was carefully considered. The best antonym I can think of is “simplistic”.
“Nuanced” can be a compliment or a neutral word, but is not normally an insult or disparaging word.
The word “nuance” in isolation refers to subtlety and is value-neutral. A scholarly article might be praised for its nuanced view of the XYZ situation, meaning the author was insightful and dealt with the details of the situation and the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th order causes and effects in the situation. As **Hello Again **says, that’s the opposite of simplistic.
However, I will now disagree with the distinguished gentleman just above.
A “nuanced reply” is one that carefully avoids outright falsity but also implies things that aren’t strictly speaking accurate. A politician skillfully sidestepping a question is an example of a “nuanced reply.”
Sometimes BS is delivered bombastically, simply shouting the falsity loud enough to overrun the opposition. That’s *not *a nuanced reply. The nuanced reply is the rhetorical equivalent of the magicians’ misdirection. You think he said X about Y but he really didn’t.
And when a commentator refers to somebody else making a “nuanced reply”, it’s usually pretty much the polite equivalent of shouting “BS!!” at the TV.
And the “nuanced world” is one where public speech by The Powers That Be is by and large nuanced replies intended to cultivate a carefully chosen view of reality that hides at least as much as it reveals.
IMO YMMV.
I agree with you that this can be the case (any tool is a weapon if you hold it right) but not that it automatically is. For example:
When asked about homelessness, Candidate A said that homeless people just need to work for a living; Candidate B gave a more nuanced reply.
There, it’s not implying candidate B is BSing. Rather, that the other reply was too simplistic. B gave the superior answer, according to the writer.
I agree. A “nuanced reply,” does not, in and of itself, suggest BS. Without further context, my assumption is a thought-out and considered reply that considers the complexity of the the situation, rather than simplistic, broad-brush answers or sloganeering.
I think a better antonym to “nuanced” would be “unambiguous”. Or possibly “clear-cut”. “Simplistic” works too, however.
It means there is more going on than is immediately obvious.
Have you ever had someone say “yes” and you knew it meant “no?” How did you know? Nuance…
What if only one person is giving a “nuanced reply”? That was the context in which I read the phrase. Would the term then mean “skillfully sidestepping” or perhaps answering a question that leaves it open to interpretation?
The context for the quote would help. Like I said, my first impression of “nuanced reply,” without further context, is to mean a reply that carefully considers the subtleties of a question and does not answer it in a simple, broad fashion.
Not necessarily. See my example in post 4.
Pulykamell, would you agree that depending on the context the term “nuanced reply” can have the meaning of:
and
Excellent point.
As so often happens with our dear OP, he asks what’s really a very nuanced question, then provides about 1/4th the context necessary to correctly understand and explain the nuances. Oops.
Hey davidmich: Can you please post about 2 paragraphs preceding the uses of “nuanced replay” and “nuanced world” you’re asking about? And tell us the author and article.
If so we can get past guessing what some unknown author might have meant in some unknown situation and tell you what they almost certainly meant in this specific instance. Help us help you. Please and thank you.
Yes, it can be either, but without knowing the context you encountered it in, it’s hard to ascertain how it is being used. It’s like saying someone crafted a “careful reply” to a question. “Careful” there can imply any of a number of things, depending on context. It could be “careful” because the speaker is taking care to address the question in detail and is giving a thought-out, thorough reply instead of a quick, sloppy one. It can also be “careful” if the speaker is trying to avoid saying something incriminating. A “careful reply” can be used to side-step a question. (I’m not saying “nuanced” is an exact synonym for “careful,” but showing how a more familiar word can be used in a similar manner.)
Thank you all. very helpful.
davidmich