gradation

gradation, shade, nuance are comparable when they mean the difference or variation between two things that are nearly alike.

Gradation in the singular implies a small difference or variation of this kind, but the term is used more frequently in the plural, so that it usually implies the successive steps by which a thing passes from one type or kind into something else of a different type or kind; thus, if we take the primary colors of the spectrum as blue, yellow, and red, the gradations between these are not the colors green, orange, purple, which are clearly seen, but all of the intermediate colors by which blue gradually passes into green, and green into yellow, and yellow into orange, and so on; therefore the word is often modified by some adjective (as sensible, apparent, perceptible, or imperceptible)

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the gradations between prose and verse are fine but perceptible

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by insensible gradations shale becomes slate

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by imperceptible gradations her love was transformed into pity

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Shade implies a minute or barely perceptible degree of difference (as in thought, belief, meaning, or position)

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every shade of religious and political opinion— Macaulay

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discover fine shades of meaning in synonyms

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Shade is also often used adverbially in this sense with comparatives of ad-jectives or adverbs to imply a degree of difference that is barely noticeable

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he drew his chair a shade nearer

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his second attempt was a shade better than his first

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Nuance, though often interchangeable with shade, tends to stress even more the slightness or delicacy of the difference (as between musical tones, tints of color, or feelings)

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I . . . think that there is a shade, a nuance of expression . . . which does imply this; but, I confess, the only person who can really settle such a question is M. Renan himself— Arnold

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a faint . . . nuance of assent in Cousin Lydia's voice seemed to admit the . . . comment— Mary Austin

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nuances that might have passed unperceived break startlingly upon one's consciousness— Millan

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Analogous words: difference, divergence, distinction (see DISSIMILARITY): variation, modification, change (see under CHANGE vb)