savvy 1 of 3

noun

Definition of savvynext
as in skills
knowledge gained by actually doing or living through something she's an excellent scholar of political science, but lacks the kind of savvy needed to run for public office

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

savvy

2 of 3

adjective

ˈsa-vē How to pronounce savvy (audio)
as in smart
having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment a particularly savvy investor, he was among the first to see the potential in tech stocks

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

savvy

3 of 3

verb

as in to know
to have a clear idea of the man growled, "Don't ever date my daughter again—you savvy?"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of savvy
Noun
Coach Mauricio Pochettino is one of the best coaches in the world, but his strategic savvy, while important, is not what made the first four games of this World Cup a triumph. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 7 July 2026 The sports-savvy wondered how McNutt could have missed Swift’s longtime support, given the Knicks commentator’s expertise. — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026
Adjective
Two regular phones and one entirely new is one thing, but adding the second version of another eye-catching model seems less savvy. — David Phelan, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 The season is streaked with mordant humor, and the show’s greatest achievement is its balance of genre-savvy thrills and seriousness of purpose. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 30 July 2026
Verb
There are no easy courses or credentials to make someone AI savvy. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026 Most airline mobile apps will immediately notify you when your trip is delayed, but flight tracking can help savvy travelers anticipate delays before the departure board officially turns red. — Graham Rapier, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for savvy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for savvy
  1. skills
  2. smart
  3. know
  4. experience
  5. astute
  6. understand
  7. expertise
  8. shrewd
Noun
  • His long-term vision is for Frosty Frogs to become more than a dessert shop by serving as a place where young people develop confidence, business skills and leadership experience.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2026
  • Newly promoted from the Arizona Complex League to Low-A San Jose, the Giants’ two top prospects took turns showing off their defensive skills, eliciting cheers and a gasp of disbelief or two from the crowd at Excite Ballpark Saturday night.
    — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 26 July 2026
Definition of skills
Adjective
  • But in recent years the American male seems to have fully embraced white (and off-white) denim, recognizing its versatility as a slightly smarter alternative to the blue jean, and a more casual substitute for chinos.
    — Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 27 July 2026
  • Another key segment is military and defense uniforms that feature smart camouflage, heat regulation and real-time vital monitoring for soldiers in rugged environments.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 27 July 2026
Definition of smart
Verb
  • Funen is a historic spot known for its 123 castles and estates, and Odense is particularly lovely, with characterful old streets, lush greenery, and inspiring museums that add to its charm.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026
  • What was once known as Westport Middle School opened in 1924 and closed in 2009.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of know
Noun
  • In the afternoon, book a spot at one of Copenhagen’s many hot tub experiences; some favorites include Hottub Copenhagen and CopenHot, the biggest outdoor spa in Denmark.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The experience reinforced her belief that the profession itself was never the problem.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of experience
Adjective
  • 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
Definition of astute
Verb
  • Instead of diluting its elite credibility to reach a broader audience, the brand translated that credibility into environments where the average person could understand its every day relevance.
    — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Even more unnerving than the sheer volume is how little the impact is understood and accounted for.
    — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
Definition of understand
Noun
  • Domain expertise, transparent quality assurance processes and the ability to adapt workflows as requirements change often have a greater impact on long-term model performance than the speed at which labels are initially delivered.
    — Lucas Zhao, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • The firm celebrates its 80th birthday this year, and has been bolstered with new talent bringing additional expertise and services to the business.
    — David Moin, Footwear News, 27 July 2026
Definition of expertise
Adjective
  • Circus Circus manages to turn a monthly profit of between $50,000 to $80,000 in the summer season through shrewd tactics, including using unordered prime rib from the hotel’s steakhouse in a buffet stew, the Journal revealed.
    — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2026
  • Project 2025, produced by the Heritage Foundation, was more shrewd.
    — Marc Novicoff, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
Definition of shrewd

Browse Nearby Words

savvies
savvy
savvying
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Savvy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/savvy. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on savvy

Nglish: Translation of savvy for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All