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shrewd

[ shrood ]
/ ʃrud /
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See synonyms for: shrewd / shrewdest / shrewdly / shrewdness on Thesaurus.com
adjective, shrewd·er, shrewd·est.
having or showing astute or sharp judgment in practical matters, sometimes at the cost of moral compromise: a shrewd businessman.
cunning or tricky; artful.
keen; piercing: shrewd pain.
Archaic. mischievous; naughty.
Obsolete. malicious or evil; bad.
Obsolete. shrewish.
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Origin of shrewd

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

synonym study for shrewd

1. See acute.

OTHER WORDS FROM shrewd

shrewd·ly, adverbshrewd·ness, nounun·shrewd, adjectiveun·shrewd·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to shrewd

astute, cagey, canny, crafty, farsighted, ingenious, judicious, keen, penetrating, perceptive, probing, prudent, sensible, sharp, slick, sly, smart, wily, wise, acute

How to use shrewd in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for shrewd

shrewd
/ (ʃruːd) /
adjective
astute and penetrating, often with regard to business
artful and craftya shrewd politician
obsolete
  1. piercinga shrewd wind
  2. spiteful

Derived forms of shrewd

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
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