shrewdness

[shrood-nis]

noun

1. the quality of being astute or sharp in practical matters; the ability to find and pursue the most advantageous course of action, sometimes at the cost of moral compromise.

   He had the gift of storytelling, but not the ordinary shrewdness to convert the talent into a bankable asset.

   Michnik says that the marketplace frequently “chooses banality over excellence, shrewdness over nobility, empty promise over true competence.”

Other Word Forms

• unshrewdness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shrewdness¹

shrewd ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

When the stakes are high, he demonstrates a shrewdness in managing his image.

Read more on BBC

While the practicality of Harris’s proposal may be debatable, its political shrewdness is undeniable.

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"I saw that spark in him, that political shrewdness in him. I saw a horse going to win big races."

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Napoleon ascends through shrewdness and dumb luck, taking advantage of anti-royalist sentiment one minute and crowning himself emperor the next.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Brighton is known for its shrewdness in the transfer market, buying players cheaply and selling them for high prices.

Read more on Seattle Times

Related Words

• acumen 
• sharpness www.thesaurus.com