adjective

shrewd

/ʃruːd/ · say it: SHROOD

having sharp practical judgment

In Personality & Character

In more detail

1. (adjective) having or showing good judgment and the ability to understand things quickly and clearly

2. (adjective) clever at getting what you want, especially in business or money matters

Examples

1. She made a shrewd observation about the company's problems.
2. He was a shrewd businessman who always made profitable deals.

How to use shrewd

Shrewd describes someone with keen insight and practical judgment, especially in assessing situations or making advantageous decisions. It carries a positive connotation of intelligence and discernment, though it can suggest a somewhat calculating quality. The word is particularly common in business and financial contexts, where it implies both intelligence and self-interest.

Common phrases

shrewd business sense
shrewd investment
shrewd observer
shrewd move
shrewd judgment

Synonyms

astute · clever · perceptive · sharp · canny

Opposites

naive · gullible · foolish

Word family

shrewdly (adverb) · shrewdness (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse shrewd with shrew (the animal or the ill-tempered person), or use it to describe someone who is merely clever without the practical judgment component.

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