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as in bitter
causing intense discomfort to one's skin she pulled her coat tighter against the shrewd breeze whipping down the alley

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective shrewd differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of shrewd are astute, perspicacious, and sagacious. While all these words mean "acute in perception and sound in judgment," shrewd stresses practical, hardheaded cleverness and judgment.

a shrewd judge of character

When is it sensible to use astute instead of shrewd?

While the synonyms astute and shrewd are close in meaning, astute suggests shrewdness, perspicacity, and diplomatic skill.

an astute player of party politics

When could perspicacious be used to replace shrewd?

The meanings of perspicacious and shrewd largely overlap; however, 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 shrewd?

While in some cases nearly identical to shrewd, sagacious suggests wisdom, penetration, and farsightedness.

sagacious investors got in on the ground floor

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 shrewd Chain-of-Density (CoD) Prompting A shrewd method of devising summaries involves a clever prompting strategy known as chain-of-density (CoD), which aims to bolster generative AI toward attaining especially superb or at least better-than-usual summaries. Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 Ford’s shrewd boss, Robert McNamara, was ready to kill the nameplate altogether, facing another homely redesign approved for 1961. Raphael Orlove, Robb Report, 27 Feb. 2025 Harry Maguire and James Maddison were other shrewd investments. Rob Tanner, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025 The shrewd 2025 gnome hunter hit the Augusta grounds long before The Masters’ opening round on Thursday. Larry Holder, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shrewd
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrewd
Adjective
  • Even smart bulbs and other kinds of smart lighting often require less power than traditional lights.
    Simon Hill, Wired News, 22 Apr. 2025
  • An increasing number of smart, eco-conscious entrepreneurs are putting Earth first by utilizing unwanted materials that would otherwise end up as trash.
    Lisa Jhung, Outside Online, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Trump's second term kicked off late January with mass layoffs in the federal government, widespread tariffs, an escalating trade war with China and a deportation program that has led to a bitter court battle.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Her coverage has ranged from a rare interview with Mark Zuckerberg as Meta neared its 20th birthday to the bitter divorce proceedings of an Indian software billionaire.
    Kerry A. Dolan, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Esme forgoes a generic entreaty at the feet of her girlboss and instead makes a cunning personal plea for better judgment from her mentor.
    Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
  • John Krasinski plays Luke, a cunning art thief in the action adventure thriller Fountain of Youth, and puts his skills to good use.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This is an astute observation from perhaps hockey’s most astute coach.
    Josh Yohe, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Financially, few compare to Tottenham Hotspur’s astute business acumen, as football finance expert at the University of Liverpool Kieran Maguire pointed out on Rio Ferdinand’s podcast recently.
    Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The aviation industry expects the exemption to help companies keep costs down during a sharp pullback in travel spending by consumers worried about slower economic growth and higher inflation.
    Rajesh Kumar Singh, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
  • The postseason, when each opponent likely has a sharp quarterback, might be another story.
    Ben Standig, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Save on breezy skirts, cute jeans, and stretchy yoga pants that are ideal for travel.
    Isabel Garcia, People.com, 26 Apr. 2025
  • More: Are cute children's books teaching kids about gender and sexuality?
    Stephen J. Beard, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • But the truly savvy teens aren't punching time clocks.
    Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Trump has long built his brand on being a master dealmaker and a savvy businessman.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The word itself began life as a British colonial term, probably a corruption of kutu, a Malay word for lice and other biting insects.
    Bruce Handy, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2025
  • But the two-hour, 40-minute script by Jennifer Crittenden and Gabrielle Allan is smart, biting, playful and swift-paced.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Shrewd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrewd. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

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