Shrewd Definition and Meaning
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Published on May 9, 2024
Shrewd means having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute. e.g., Her shrewd analysis of the market trends impressed her colleagues.
Table of Contents
Shrewd Definitions
Astute and sharp in practical matters.
His shrewd negotiation skills saved the company thousands.
Possessing a clear insight into situations and people; perceptive.
Her shrewd observation revealed the truth.
Exhibiting sharp performance or skills.
The lawyer's shrewd cross-examination clinched the case.
Demonstrating clever foresight and judgment.
His shrewd planning ensured the project's success.
Having the ability to understand and make the right decisions.
He's a shrewd judge of character.
Skillful in dealing with difficult or delicate situations.
He managed the crisis with shrewd diplomacy.
Having keen judgment and practical understanding; clever.
He's known for his shrewd business decisions.
Being cleverly resourceful in achieving one's ends.
She used her shrewd tactics to rise to the top.
Having or showing a clever awareness or resourcefulness, especially in practical matters.
Disposed to or marked by artful and cunning practices; tricky.
(Archaic) Sharp; penetrating
A shrewd wind.
Showing clever resourcefulness in practical matters.
Artful, tricky or cunning.
(informal) Streetwise, street-smart.
Knowledgeable, intelligent, keen.
Nigh accurate.
A shrewd guess
Severe, intense, hard.
A shrewd blow, or assault
Sharp, snithy, piercing.
A shrewd wind
(archaic) Bad, evil, threatening.
(obsolete) Portending, boding.
(archaic) Noxious, scatheful, mischievous.
(obsolete) Abusive, shrewish.
(archaic) Scolding, satirical, sharp.
Inclining to shrew; disposing to curse or scold; hence, vicious; malicious; evil; wicked; mischievous; vexatious; rough; unfair; shrewish.
[Egypt] hath many shrewd havens, because of the great rocks that ben strong and dangerous to pass by.
Every of this happy numberThat have endured shrewd days and nights with us.
Artful; wily; cunning; arch.
These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues.
Able or clever in practical affairs; sharp in business; astute; sharp-witted; sagacious; keen; as, a shrewd observer; a shrewd design; a shrewd reply.
Professing to despise the ill opinion of mankind creates a shrewd suspicion that we have deserved it.
Marked by practical hardheaded intelligence;
A smart businessman
An astute tenant always reads the small print in a lease
He was too shrewd to go along with them on a road that could lead only to their overthrow
Used of persons;
The most calculating and selfish men in the community
Marked by a clever discerning awareness and hardheaded acumen.
She made a shrewd investment that paid off well.
Capable of keenly discerning and evaluating complexities.
She has a shrewd mind for scientific research.
Shrewd Snonyms
Sagacious
Having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; wise or shrewd.
The sagacious leader guided his nation through crisis.
Perceptive
Having or showing sensitive insight or understanding.
His perceptive analysis of the poem impressed his teachers.
Canny
Having or showing shrewdness and good judgment, especially in money or business matters.
The canny investor knew when to buy and sell.
Acute
Sharp or penetrating in intellect, insight, or perception.
She has an acute sense of humor that everyone admires.
Clever
Quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas; intelligent.
He found a clever solution to the problem.
Insightful
Having or showing an accurate and deep understanding; perceptive.
Her insightful comments shed new light on the issue.
Keen
Highly developed; sharp.
He has a keen eye for detail in his artwork.
Savvy
Shrewd and knowledgeable; having common sense and good judgment.
The tech-savvy entrepreneur launched a successful app.
Astute
Having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one’s advantage.
Her astute observations were invaluable to the research.
Wise
Having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgment.
The wise old man offered advice to those who asked.
Shrewd Example Sentences
Her shrewd investments over the years have amassed a considerable fortune.
The shrewd manager spotted the flaw in the plan immediately.
He was considered the most shrewd politician of his time.
Only a shrewd operator could have navigated those complex negotiations.
The detective’s shrewd deduction led to the case being solved.
She was known for her shrewd assessment of people’s characters.
With shrewd judgment, she avoided the common pitfalls of the industry.
His shrewd choice of words calmed the heated argument.
The entrepreneur’s shrewd understanding of the market trends set him apart.
They admired her for her shrewd approach to problem-solving.
She built her career on shrewd decisions and relentless work.
A shrewd analysis of the situation revealed the best course of action.
A shrewd compromise was reached that satisfied all parties.
His shrewd handling of the crisis averted disaster.
The shrewd strategist planned several moves ahead.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called shrewd?
It is called "shrewd" because it describes someone with sharp judgment and the ability to understand and deal with situations in a clever way, deriving from Middle English "schrude," meaning malicious or wicked, which over time came to denote sharpness of mind.
How do we divide shrewd into syllables?
"Shrewd" is a single syllable, so it is not divided.
What is a stressed syllable in shrewd?
The entire word "shrewd" is stressed, as it is only one syllable.
How many syllables are in shrewd?
There is one syllable in "shrewd."
What is the pronunciation of shrewd?
Shrewd is pronounced as /ʃruːd/.
How is shrewd used in a sentence?
His shrewd analysis of the legal documents uncovered several key insights.
Is shrewd an abstract noun?
No, "shrewd" is an adjective, not a noun.
What is the verb form of shrewd?
"Shrewd" is an adjective; it does not have a verb form. However, actions demonstrating shrewdness could be described with verbs like "judge" or "discern."
What part of speech is shrewd?
"Shrewd" is an adjective.
Is shrewd a negative or positive word?
"Shrewd" is generally positive, denoting intelligence and astuteness, but can have negative connotations depending on context, implying cunning or craftiness.
Is the word “shrewd” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Shrewd" cannot be a direct or indirect object as it is an adjective, not a noun.
What is the root word of shrewd?
The root of "shrewd" comes from the Middle English "schrude," originally meaning malicious or wicked, evolving to its current meaning related to keen judgment.
What is the singular form of shrewd?
"Shrewd" is an adjective and does not change form between singular and plural; it describes both singular and plural nouns without altering its form.
Is shrewd a countable noun?
"Shrewd" is not a noun; it is an adjective.
What is another term for shrewd?
Another term for "shrewd" is astute.
What is the plural form of shrewd?
As an adjective, "shrewd" does not have a plural form and is used the same way regardless of the noun's number.
What is the opposite of shrewd?
The opposite of "shrewd" could be naive or obtuse.
Is shrewd a vowel or consonant?
The question does not apply to "shrewd" as a whole; it starts with a consonant (s).
Is the word shrewd imperative?
No, "shrewd" is not imperative; it is an adjective used to describe a noun.
Which preposition is used with shrewd?
Prepositions like "in" (e.g., "shrewd in business") can be used with "shrewd," depending on the sentence.
Which conjunction is used with shrewd?
Conjunctions are used based on overall sentence structure, not specifically with the adjective "shrewd."
Is shrewd a noun or adjective?
"Shrewd" is an adjective.
Is the word shrewd Gerund?
No, "shrewd" is not a gerund; it remains an adjective in its usage.
Which vowel is used before shrewd?
The use of a vowel before "shrewd" is not specifically determined; it depends on the structure of the sentence.
Is shrewd an adverb?
No, "shrewd" is not an adverb; it is an adjective. The adverb form would be "shrewdly."
Is shrewd a collective noun?
No, "shrewd" is not a collective noun; it is an adjective.
Is the shrewd term a metaphor?
"Shrewd" can be used metaphorically to describe someone's mental sharpness or keen insight.
Which determiner is used with shrewd?
Determiners like "a," "the," or possessive pronouns (e.g., "her shrewd decision") can be used with "shrewd" depending on the context.
Which article is used with shrewd?
Articles like "a" or "the" can be used with "shrewd" depending on whether it is used with a countable noun (e.g., "a shrewd move").
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
