SHREWD Synonyms: 207 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'shrewd' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of shrewd are astute , perspicacious , and sagacious . While all these words mean "acute in perception and sound in judgment," shrewd stresses practical, hardheaded cleverness and judgment. // a shrewd judge of character

Q: When is it sensible to use 'astute' instead of 'shrewd'?

While the synonyms astute and shrewd are close in meaning, astute suggests shrewdness, perspicacity, and diplomatic skill. // an astute player of party politics

Q: When could 'perspicacious' be used to replace 'shrewd'?

The meanings of perspicacious and shrewd largely overlap; however, perspicacious implies unusual power to see through and understand what is puzzling or hidden. // a perspicacious counselor saw through the child's facade

Q: When might 'sagacious' be a better fit than 'shrewd'?

While in some cases nearly identical to shrewd , sagacious suggests wisdom, penetration, and farsightedness. // sagacious investors got in on the ground floor

shrewd

adjective

ˈshrüd

Definition of shrewd next

as in smart

having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment a shrewd used car dealer who knew how to make the best possible deal shrewd investments that paid off big

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in bitter

causing intense discomfort to one's skin she pulled her coat tighter against the shrewd breeze whipping down the alley

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in cunning

clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means a shrewd operator in the real estate game, she made every buyer think they were getting the deal of the century

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective shrewd differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of shrewd are astute, perspicacious, and sagacious. While all these words mean "acute in perception and sound in judgment," shrewd stresses practical, hardheaded cleverness and judgment.

a shrewd judge of character

When is it sensible to use astute instead of shrewd?

While the synonyms astute and shrewd are close in meaning, astute suggests shrewdness, perspicacity, and diplomatic skill.

an astute player of party politics

When could perspicacious be used to replace shrewd?

The meanings of perspicacious and shrewd largely overlap; however, perspicacious implies unusual power to see through and understand what is puzzling or hidden.

a perspicacious counselor saw through the child's facade

When might sagacious be a better fit than shrewd?

While in some cases nearly identical to shrewd, sagacious suggests wisdom, penetration, and farsightedness.

sagacious investors got in on the ground floor

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of shrewd His shrewd scrambles are the only reason the Niners have had a functioning offense in several games this season. —

Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 9 Dec. 2024 People And Beliefs About Angels The shrewdest place to begin an exploration of whether generative AI and large language models (LLMs) ought to believe in angels is best undertaken by considering the overall nature of human beliefs. —

Lance Eliot, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024 Schrader keeps things straight for viewers through the use of shrewd visual cues. —

Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2024 An expansive, funny, shrewd story about family ties that both anchor and restrain. —

Tomi Obaro, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for shrewd

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrewd

Adjective

Smart money is on those building a future that includes a smart shorts programming strategy.

Paul Pastor, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Dec. 2024
In response, social media companies’ algorithms to detect drug-selling behavior are getting smarter and are aggregating images and emojis, Fuller says.

Mattha Busby, WIRED, 17 Dec. 2024