Definition

1. 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

1. used of persons
   • the most calculating and selfish men in the community
2. 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