shrewdness

[ shrood-nis ]

noun

1. the quality of being astute or sharp in practical matters; the ability to find and pursue the most advantageous course of action, sometimes at the cost of moral compromise:

   He had the gift of storytelling, but not the ordinary shrewdness to convert the talent into a bankable asset.

   Michnik says that the marketplace frequently “chooses banality over excellence, shrewdness over nobility, empty promise over true competence.”

Other Words From

• un·shrewd·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shrewdness¹

shrewd ( def ) + -ness ( def )

Example Sentences

In the arc of his life, we see a man who earned his place in history through struggle and shrewdness; persistence and faith.

From The Daily Beast

Here we saw many types of the Yorkshire man, famed for his shrewdness and fondness for what we would call "dickering."

From Project Gutenberg

Scotch shrewdness expresses itself in a phraseology all its own, and of which Donald alone possesses the secret.

From Project Gutenberg

Scotch shrewdness has occasionally a certain smack of mild hypocrisy, which, however, does no harm to anyone.

From Project Gutenberg

Arnold paused, and his glance held something of shrewdness and a livening challenge.

From Project Gutenberg

There is an air of anxious expectancy about him, with a look of Semitic shrewdness in the long, narrow face.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• acumen
• sharpness