Synonyms of astute

astute

adjective

ə-ˈstüt 

as in smart

having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment

a police detective known to be an astute judge of character

Synonyms & Similar Words

• smart
• shrewd
• savvy
• wise
• sharp
• intelligent
• clever
• brilliant
• experienced
• knowing
• veteran
• hardheaded
• keen
• canny
• heady
• clear-eyed
• cunning
• clear-sighted
• sharp-witted
• quick
• perceptive
• bright
• insightful
• subtle
• sagacious
• wily
• perspicacious
• slick
• sly
• artful
• discerning
• hard-boiled
• crafty
• cagey
• tricky
• devious
• resourceful
• foxy
• sage
• guileful
• percipient
• ingenious
• pawky
• sapient
• nimble
• apt
• brainy
• discriminating
• discriminative
• agile
• alert
• dodgy
• sharp-eyed
• quick-witted
• calculating
• sharp-sighted
• scheming

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• naive
• ingenuous
• guileless
• unknowing
• artless
• gullible
• innocent
• unwise
• exploitable
• unperceptive
• obtuse
• dense
• dumb
• simple
• stupid
• foolish
• slow
• unintelligent
• dull
• idiotic
• dopey
• thoughtless
• ignorant
• uninformed
• silly
• feebleminded
• brain-dead
• brainless
• moronic
• thickheaded
• weak-minded
• imbecile
• witless
• dim-witted
• gormless
• knuckleheaded
• slow-witted
• softheaded
• empty-headed
• half-witted
• lamebrain
• airheaded
• lunkheaded
• thick-witted
• birdbrained

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective astute differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of astute are perspicacious, sagacious, and shrewd. While all these words mean "acute in perception and sound in judgment," astute suggests shrewdness, perspicacity, and diplomatic skill.

an astute player of party politics

When could perspicacious be used to replace astute?

While in some cases nearly identical to astute, perspicacious implies unusual power to see through and understand what is puzzling or hidden.

a perspicacious counselor saw through the child's facade

When might sagacious be a better fit than astute?

In some situations, the words sagacious and astute are roughly equivalent. However, sagacious suggests wisdom, penetration, and farsightedness.

sagacious investors got in on the ground floor

When would shrewd be a good substitute for astute?

Although the words shrewd and astute have much in common, shrewd stresses practical, hardheaded cleverness and judgment.

a shrewd judge of character

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of astute

Both thrived on the back of excellent recruitment and astute coaching, but now comes the challenge of backing it up. — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 22 July 2026

As an astute student of soul, Jasmine Rose Wilson has identified a common thread tying together all the different permutations of the music. — Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 14 July 2026

But the most astute recognize the folly of the notion that the military can sidestep politics entirely. — Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026

Her astute observations — and solid Disney fairy tale references — don't stop there. — Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026

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