shrewd
Americanadjective
-
shrewder,
comparative
-
shrewdest
superlative
-
having or showing astute or sharp judgment in practical matters, sometimes at the cost of moral compromise.
a shrewd businessman.
- Synonyms:
- intelligent, discriminating, keen, sagacious, perspicacious, perceptive, discerning, quick
-
cunning or tricky; artful.
-
shrewd pain.
-
Archaic. mischievous; naughty.
-
Obsolete. malicious or evil; bad.
-
Obsolete. shrewish.
adjective
-
astute and penetrating, often with regard to business
-
artful and crafty
a shrewd politician
-
obsolete
-
piercing
a shrewd wind
-
spiteful
-
Synonym Usage
See acute.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of shrewd
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English shrewed, in part representing shrew 1 + -ed 3 ( cf. dogged 1, wicked); in part probably past participle of shrewen “to curse,” verb use of shrew 1 ( -ed 2 )
Explanation
If you are shrewd in your spending, you can make a small salary go a long way. Use the adjective shrewd to describe a person or thing that is smart or clever in a practical sort of way. The word shrewd is from a Middle English adjective formed from the noun schrewe, "an evil person, a villain." This Middle English noun is an earlier form of our modern English word shrew. So shrewd and shrew are related to each other. Shrewd doesn't usually have a disapproving or negative tone, but shrew certainly does.
Vocabulary lists containing shrewd
List 2
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
And Then There Were None
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Much Ado About Nothing
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A string of shrewd acquisitions then built a team that produces the third-most runs per game in the NL.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
“It’s this shrewd way that they’re protecting their information and eluding public oversight,” Shapiro said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
He boxes to relax, and as an early inspiration cites the Roman general Scipio, who with shrewd tactics defeated Carthaginian Hannibal and his war elephants to win a seemingly impossible battle.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Ronaldo looked unhappy as he walked off but it proved a shrewd move as substitute Goncalo Ramos, seen as a natural replacement for Ronaldo, sent Portugal through in a chaotic finish.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
Mrs. Hauser is a widow, and although she seems to be a frail old lady, I know she’s shrewd; she’s a very smart— though old and crumbly—cookie.
From "Confessions of a Murder Suspect" by James Patterson
One of their shrewder tactics is to begin the story as an odd-couple courtship as Ernest, a war veteran, ingratiates himself with the wealthy, wary Mollie.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2023
Fancied to feature by some of the shrewder racing pundits.
From BBC ● Apr. 7, 2022
Beneath the malapropisms and the circumlocutions, though, Palin turned out to have a shrewder feel for Republican voters than those in the press who scorned her, and who underestimated him.
From New York Times ● Apr. 4, 2022
But Stacey Abrams is one of the shrewder Democratic politicians.
From Slate ● Dec. 2, 2021
Or she won't, a shrewder voice in his head suggested.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
That’s the hypothesis of one of the world’s shrewdest and most respected analysts of geopolitics and energy, Cambridge University political economy professor Helen Thompson.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 11, 2026
Klein Halevi is one of the shrewdest and most thoughtful analysts of Israeli politics and society.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 27, 2026
Ashworth's glittering reputation as one of the game's shrewdest operators meant he was regarded as a prized, crucial acquisition but left in December 2024 after only five months at Old Trafford.
From BBC ● Jan. 5, 2026
Jude: Signing Nwosu was one of the Seahawks’ shrewdest moves of the offseason.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 10, 2022
Of all the gods he was the shrewdest and most cunning; in fact he was the Master Thief, who started upon his career before he was a day old.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
