shrewd

[shrood]

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adjective, shrewd·er, shrewd·est.

astute or sharp in practical matters: a shrewd politician.
keen; piercing.
artful(def 1).

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)

Related formsshrewd·ly, adverbshrewd·ness, nounun·shrewd, adjectiveun·shrewd·ly, adverbun·shrewd·ness, noun

Synonyms for shrewd

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for shrewdness

acumen, sharpness, intelligence, cleverness, perspicacity, judgment

Examples from the Web for shrewdness

Contemporary Examples of shrewdness

In the arc of his life, we see a man who earned his place in history through struggle and shrewdness; persistence and faith.
Full Text of President Obama's Eulogy for Nelson Mandela
The Daily Beast
December 10, 2013

Historical Examples of shrewdness

Her ruse of spoliation within the law was evidence of her shrewdness, nothing more.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
To this there was no reply; and they hated her the more for their having been silenced by her shrewdness.
Tales And Novels, Volume 4 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
Mr. Gordon believed that to shrewdness and persistence all things are possible.
Cleveland Past and Present
Maurice Joblin
He called upon all his shrewdness, all his trickiness of the South.
A Spirit in Prison
Robert Hichens
Also, at that time, he idolized his brother and believed in his shrewdness and capability.
Cap'n Warren's Wards
Joseph C. Lincoln

British Dictionary definitions for shrewdness

shrewd

adjective

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

Derived Formsshrewdly, 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

Word Origin and History for shrewdness

shrewd

adj.

c.1300, "wicked, evil," from shrewe "wicked man" (see shrew). Cf. crabbed from crab (n.), dogged from dog (n.), wicked from witch (n.). The sense of "cunning" is first recorded 1510s. Related: Shrewdly; shrewdness. Strutt's "Sports and Pastimes of the People of England" (1801) has a shrewdness of apes for a company or group of them. Shrewdie "cunning person" is from 1916.