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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

shrewd Related Forms
shrewdly adverb shrewd·ness noun
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.

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.
  • mickey: Diamond said they and shrewd mickey he spent overseas a school or church.
  • businessman: More than any of the Wade family he was not just a shrewd businessman, he was also a real character.
  • signing: The spirit has lifted around Turf Moor recently tho with some shrewd loan signings and an improvement on the pitch.
  • observer: A great man to have around in a crisis, he is also a shrewd observer of human nature.
  • suspicion: There is even now a shrewd suspicion that ' Isa Craig ' hides a name much less obscure.

Modifying Another Word

  • pretty: Anyone who has worked on a labor ward gets a pretty shrewd idea about this.
  • very: Or are there some very shrewd players behind the scenes?
  • too: He was too shrewd a student of his fellow- men to remain long content with rigid formulae of conduct.
  • so: Their money is now my money because I was so shrewd.
  • politically: It's not very authentically Spanish, or politically shrewd.
  • quite: It in fact is quite shrewd in this regard.

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.
  • seem: The old man seemed shrewd enough not to allow his money to be taken with impunity.
  • become: His eyes become shrewd when I ask him this; he seems to want to say something, then hesitates.

Preposition: in

  • business: You are shrewd in business and cannot be trusted.

Browse dictionary entries near shrewd

  1. shrew
  2. Shreveport
  3. shredder
  4. shredded wheat
  5. shred
  6. shrapnel
  7. shrank
  8. shr
  9. shpt
  10. shp
  1. shrewdie
  2. shrewdly
  3. shrewdness
  4. shrewish
  5. shrewmouse
  6. Shrewsbury
  7. shriek
  8. shrieking
  9. shrievalty
  10. shrieve