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. keen; piercing:

   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

Derived Forms

• ˈshrewdly, adverb
• ˈshrewdness, noun

Other Words From

• shrewd·ly adverb
• shrewd·ness noun
• un·shrewd adjective
• un·shrewd·ly adverb

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of shrewd¹

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

Synonym Study

See acute.

Example Sentences

But Musk, ever the innovator, appears to have found a shrewd way around it.

From Slate

But if the 6ft 5in Suaalii is as good as some think, even that outlay will be a shrewd investment.

From BBC

Here, he was playing on the antisemitic trope of Jews as shrewd, stingy businessmen.

From Slate

Tributes have been paid to Dias, described by the Carta de Moçambique news site as a "shrewd lawyer, intrepid, with the tough fibre of a fighter".

From BBC

Bonar Law was both a true believer in the Ulster cause and a shrewd political operator, who correctly perceived that home rule could be used to bring down Asquith and the Liberals.

From Salon

Related Words

• astute
• cagey
• canny
• crafty
• farsighted
• ingenious
• judicious
• keen
• penetrating
• perceptive
• probing
• prudent
• sensible
• sharp
• slick
• sly
• smart
• wily
• wise