shrewd

[ shrood ]

/ ʃrud /

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adjective, shrewd·er, shrewd·est.

astute or sharp in practical matters: a shrewd politician.

keen; piercing.

artful(def 1).

Archaic. malicious.

Obsolete. bad¹.

Obsolete. shrewish.

Nearby words

shredder, shredding, shreveport, shrew, shrew mole, shrewd, shrewdie, shrewish, shrewmouse, shrewsbury, shri

Origin of shrewd

1275–1325; Middle English shrewed, in part representing shrew¹ + -ed³ (cf. dogged¹, wicked); in part probably past participle of shrewen to curse, v. use of shrew¹ (see -ed²)

SYNONYMS FOR shrewd

1 quick, discerning, perceptive, perspicacious, sagacious, keen; discriminating, intelligent. See acute.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR shrewd ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

shrewd·ly, adverbshrewd·ness, nounun·shrewd, adjectiveun·shrewd·ly, adverb

un·shrewd·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for shrewd

The deviating family melodrama has, thankfully, been replaced by shrewd spycraft.
‘Homeland’ Season 4: A Stripped-Down and Surprisingly Badass Return to Form|Marlow Stern|September 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As someone with a shrewd eye for the absurd, it is entirely possible somewhere Joan Rivers is smiling right now.
Joan Rivers: 'Death Is Like Plastic Surgery'|Tim Teeman|September 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It stands to reason that nowadays, to do the latter would be shrewd indeed.
Ted Thompson’s Debut Novel Features A 1 Percenter As Its Hero|Stefan Beck|May 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
According to tradition, the typical Yankee peddler was thought to be so shrewd that he could carve and sell counterfeit nutmegs.
Ted Thompson’s Debut Novel Features A 1 Percenter As Its Hero|Stefan Beck|May 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST

They listen to their shrewd father, Tywin Lannister, smear their dead son in front of his corpse.
Game of Thrones’ Most WTF Sex Scene: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau on Jaime Lannister’s Darkest Hour|Marlow Stern|April 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We have a shrewd idea that he may be hanging in the neighbourhood again very shortly.
Punch or the London Charivari, Vol. 148, February 10, 1915|Various
He was a shrewd observer, and had drawn his own conclusions, but discreetly kept them to himself.
Marguerite De Roberval|T. G. Marquis
The replies of Sandilla to various remarks and questions lately put to him are shrewd enough.
The Cape and the Kaffirs|Harriet Ward
A kind, shrewd man was Mr. Boffin, devoted to his wife, whom he greatly admired.
Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama, Vol 1|The Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D.
She was saving and shrewd, with the Scotch-Irish passion for "getting ahead."
Cyrus Hall McCormick|Herbert Newton Casson

British Dictionary definitions for shrewd

shrewd

/ (ʃruːd) /

adjective

astute and penetrating, often with regard to business

artful and craftya shrewd politician

obsolete

piercinga shrewd wind
spiteful

Derived Forms

shrewdly, adverbshrewdness, noun

Word Origin for shrewd

C14: from shrew (obsolete vb) to curse, from shrew

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

shrewd

adjective, shrewd·er, shrewd·est.

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Nearby words

Origin of shrewd

SYNONYMS FOR shrewd

Related forms

Examples from the Web for shrewd

British Dictionary definitions for shrewd

shrewd

adjective

Derived Forms

Word Origin for shrewd