1
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
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2
as in bitter
causing intense discomfort to one's skin
she pulled her coat tighter against the shrewd breeze whipping down the alley
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3
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
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Recent Examples of shrewd
This is a particularly shrewd gambit - on multiple symbolic and practical levels.
—
Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
In between shout-outs from the crowd, Colbert played it straight, rattling off jokes about the day’s headlines, revealing one last First Draft, and sharing shrewd bits of history about The Ed Sullivan Theater.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 22 May 2026
Greg, a billionaire and a large shareholder of BRK, has proven to be a shrewd operator of BRK’s energy business.
—Vitaliy Katsenelson, Fortune, 14 May 2026
After more than 50 years in the industry, however, Deborah is a shrewd businesswoman.
—Caroline Framke, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrewd
Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
In between shout-outs from the crowd, Colbert played it straight, rattling off jokes about the day’s headlines, revealing one last First Draft, and sharing shrewd bits of history about The Ed Sullivan Theater.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 22 May 2026
Greg, a billionaire and a large shareholder of BRK, has proven to be a shrewd operator of BRK’s energy business.
—Vitaliy Katsenelson, Fortune, 14 May 2026
After more than 50 years in the industry, however, Deborah is a shrewd businesswoman.
—Caroline Framke, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrewd
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrewd
Adjective
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Many professionals spend years trying to sound smarter, calmer, more agreeable, or more polished while gradually losing trust in their natural instincts and communication style.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
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GreenLife brings smart design and colorful style to your everyday cooking with this Compact Stainless Steel Saucepan Set.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
Adjective
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This collection of poems—Orr’s thirteenth—bears bitter witness to environmental degradation, moral corruption, and the aging of a body and of a generation, all viewed from a bird’s eye, wrapped in the language and tone of myth.—
Craig Morgan Teicher,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
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Latest in bitter back-and-forth The sour words about each candidate’s PAC connections are only the latest in a bitter back-and-forth between the two Democrat women.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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What could be more cunning and disgusting than training dogs to commit anal rape?—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
21 May 2026
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Dano’s static line delivery gets used for a chilling but laconic effect as his character’s cunning political negotiations lead to deadly outcomes.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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While the criticism is well deserved, to its credit, the report does make a handful of astute observations that Democrats would be wise not to dismiss.—
Douglas Schoen,
Oc Register,
28 May 2026
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The Cult Content Boom The three-part series, however, is grounded with an astute cast, headed by former cult member Hoyt Richards, a 1980s and ’90s supermodel, the face of global campaigns for Versace, Valentino, Cartier and Ralph Lauren.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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The entrepreneurs best positioned for the years ahead aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets or the sharpest marketing.—
Rhett Power,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
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Fishermen say increasing competition has spurred a sharp rise in armed conflict, especially between fisherfolk from the Turkana and Dassanech ethnic groups.—
Tommy Trenchard,
NPR,
31 May 2026
Adjective
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Keep scrolling to start the season strong with ’90s-but-better jelly mules, cute lightweight dresses, and a sling bag that’s about to become your water bottle’s new best friend.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
6 June 2026
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Bonus points for picking separates in the same color palette (red and white is a particularly cute, preppy combo, as shown above).—
Kelsey Stewart,
Glamour,
6 June 2026
Adjective
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If anything, the incident has become part of brand Beckham mythology; an early indication of David and Victoria’s fashion-forwardness and media savvy that has morphed into today’s multimillion-dollar sport, beauty and business empire.—
Sheena McKenzie,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
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Behind the adorable outfits is a booming resale ecosystem, driven by Instagram, streetwear-savvy parents and global rag houses, turning a nostalgic hobby into side hustles — and family bonding time.—
Marah Eakin,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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Netflix’s big comedy bet might be the Dan Levy–Rachel Sennott co-creation Big Mistakes; the biting, farcical series about adult siblings who get caught up in the drug business plays like Weeds crossed with The Other Two.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
2 May 2026
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The tracks are more vulnerable, biting, and self-aware than ever, and in some cases, feature lyrics pulled right out of Hjelt’s diary.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrewd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrewd. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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