subtilize vs alter

subtilize and alter both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
subtilize	No	No	Yes	No
alter	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, alter is a hypernym of subtilize; that is, alter is a word with a broader meaning than subtilize:

Other hypernyms of subtilize include change, modify.

subtilize (verb)	alter (verb)
make more subtle or refined	remove the ovaries of
make (senses) more keen	become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence
mark fine distinctions and subtleties, as among words	cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
	insert words into texts, often falsifying it thereby
	make an alteration to