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.