shrewd
/ʃru:d/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute: Characterized by an ability to understand and judge situations quickly and clearly, often with a focus on practical outcomes.
- Marked by clever discerning awareness and hardheaded acumen: Suggests intelligence that is keen, perceptive, and sometimes slightly cunning, especially in business or practical matters.
Usage and Examples
- Describing a person's judgment or intelligence:
- She made a shrewd investment that doubled in value.
- The detective asked a few shrewd questions that revealed the truth.
- Describing an action or decision based on sharp judgment:
- His shrewd negotiation saved the company millions.
- It was shrewd of you to bring an umbrella; it's starting to rain.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- "Shrewd" vs. "Intelligent": While "intelligent" is broad, "shrewd" often implies a practical, street-smart, or strategic intelligence, particularly in managing one's interests or assessing people and situations.
- Connotation: Can sometimes carry a slight negative connotation of cunning or self-interest, but is often used positively to describe business acumen or perceptiveness.
- The politician's shrewd maneuver secured the votes she needed. (This could be seen as clever or cunning depending on context.)
Variants and Related Words
- Shrewdly (adverb): In a shrewd manner.
- He shrewdly observed the market trends before investing.
- Shrewdness (noun): The quality of being shrewd.
- Her shrewdness in business is widely admired.
Synonyms
- Astute: Having an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage.
- Perspicacious: Having a ready insight into and understanding of things.
- Canny: Having or showing shrewdness and good judgment, especially in money or business matters.
- Keen: (Of a sense) highly developed; (of intelligence) quick to understand.
Antonyms
- Obtuse: Annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand.
- Gullible: Easily persuaded to believe something; credulous.
- Naive: Showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment.
Idioms and Phrases
- A shrewd guess: An accurate guess based on sharp insight rather than complete information.
- Based on the clues, she made a shrewd guess about the culprit.
- Shrewd as a fox: (Simile) Extremely clever and cunning.
- In negotiations, he's as shrewd as a fox.
Adjective
- used of persons
- the most calculating and selfish men in the community
- 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