shrewdness

American  

[shrood-nis] / ˈʃrud nɪs /

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.”

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Other Word Forms

• unshrewdness noun

Etymology

Origin of shrewdness

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

Example Sentences

Anthropic’s business prospects—and the shrewdness of its main investors, Amazon and Google—may be more deserving of notice.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From BBC

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

From BBC

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

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• acumen
• sharpness