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shrewd definition

shrewd (s̸hro̵̅o̅d)

adjective

  1. Obsolete
    1. evil, bad, wicked, mischievous, shrewish, etc.
    2. artful, cunning, wily, etc. in one's dealings with others
  2. keen-witted, clever, or sharp in practical affairs; astute: the usual current sense
  3. Archaic keen; piercing; sharp

Etymology: ME schrewed, pp. of schrewen, to curse < schrewe: see shrew

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

shrewd Synonyms

shrewd

modif.

  1. Clever

    astute, acute, sharp, keen, quick, perceptive, canny, knowing, sagacious, perspicacious, ingenious, sharp; see also clever 1, intelligent 1.

  2. Cunning

    calculating, crafty, cagey*; see sly 1.

shrewd implies keenness of mind, sharp insight, and a cleverness in practical matters a shrewd comment, businessman, etc.; sagacious implies keen discernment and farsighted judgment a sagacious counselor; perspicacious suggests the penetrating mental vision or discernment that enables one clearly to see and understand what is obscure, hidden, etc. a perspicacious judge of character; astute implies shrewdness combined with sagacity and sometimes connotes, in addition, artfulness or cunning an astute politician See also syn. study at clever.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

shrewd Usage Examples

Preposition: as

  • snake: You are to be " as shrewd as snakes " but also " as innocent as doves " .

Modifies a noun

  • tactician: Bruce, also, was an inspiring leader, a brave guerilla and a shrewd tactician.

Modifying Another Word

  • pretty: Anyone who has worked on a labor ward gets a pretty shrewd idea about this.

Infinitive complement

  • make: Elizabeth was much too shrewd to make a marriage which might damage her reputation, and she remained single.

Used with adjective complement

  • look: Ramaker's two-stage approach looks shrewd, with his working paper laying the essential groundwork.

Preposition: in

  • business: You are shrewd in business and cannot be trusted.
shrewd usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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"shrewd." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/shrewd>

APA Style

shrewd. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/shrewd

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