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View synonyms for shrewd

shrewd

[ shrood ]

adjective

, shrewd·er, shrewd·est.
  1. having or showing astute or sharp judgment in practical matters, sometimes at the cost of moral compromise:

    a shrewd businessman.

    Synonyms: intelligent, discriminating, keen, sagacious, perspicacious, perceptive, discerning, quick

  2. cunning or tricky; artful.
  3. shrewd pain.

  4. Archaic. mischievous; naughty.
  5. Obsolete. malicious or evil; bad.
  6. Obsolete. shrewish.


shrewd

/ ʃruːd /

adjective

  1. astute and penetrating, often with regard to business
  2. artful and crafty

    a shrewd politician

  3. obsolete.
    1. piercing

      a shrewd wind

    2. spiteful
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • ˈshrewdly, adverb
  • ˈshrewdness, noun
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Other Words From

  • shrewd·ly adverb
  • shrewd·ness noun
  • un·shrewd adjective
  • un·shrewd·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of shrewd1

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English shrewed, in part representing shrew 1 + -ed 3 ( dogged 1, wicked ); in part probably past participle of shrewen “to curse,” verb use of shrew 1 ( -ed 2 )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of shrewd1

C14: from shrew (obsolete vb) to curse, from shrew
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Synonym Study

See acute.
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Example Sentences

As my colleague Ben Morris wrote years ago, the advantage Beane’s shrewd deal-making brought to Oakland year after year was worth far more than any one star player could have provided the franchise.

Tesla’s been shrewd in exploiting a system in which rivals help fund its rise.

From Fortune

Dramatic as the latter move would be, it would be a shrewd one considering how declining linear viewership and accelerating cord cutting is making the economics of operating a cable TV network less tenable.

From Digiday

For tech companies, the four-day week incites laser focus and shrewd prioritization.

From Digiday

Equal parts bitter tragedy and shrewd satire, it’s a cautionary tale against the ephemeral allures of fame and fortune, as well as an indictment of an industry that exploits and then discards the very people who make it possible in the first place.

Following in those shrewd, shirtless footsteps, perhaps one day Jonas will be peed on by Nicole Kidman, too.

The deviating family melodrama has, thankfully, been replaced by shrewd spycraft.

As someone with a shrewd eye for the absurd, it is entirely possible somewhere Joan Rivers is smiling right now.

It was, all things considered, a very shrewd publicity stunt.

To be fair, the palace have played a very shrewd game with George.

Yet he could see into the heart of things as well as most men, for he was a shrewd Scotchman, and had a pawky humour.

This was accompanied by a shrewd look to his son, indicating plainly enough what he expected him to say.

A vein of shrewd and humorous sarcasm, together with an under-current of quiet selfishness, made him a very pleasant companion. '

With the shrewd cleverness that scarcely ever deserted her, she had forced her temper into the service of deception.

Taylor is a shrewd fellow; full of useful bits of information, and knows, I really believe, three-fourths of London by name.

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