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.)