SHREWDNESS Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

shrewdness

noun

Definition of shrewdness

as in intelligence

exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters a woman with the thick-skinned shrewdness to survive in a tough business

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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 shrewdness Spain’s shrewdness came in their refusal to engage with off-the-ball trivialities. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026 Instead, Franklin will rise by virtue of hard work and (actual) shrewdness. — John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026 Humble but strong, philosophical but pragmatic, Kingsley's interpretation of the leader manages to balance both his spirituality and shrewdness, simultaneously demystifying an icon while also adding another layer to the legend. — Devan Coggan, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026 Venusian shrewdness and Mercurian intelligence are coming together to boost your analytical powers — at least, in regard to your own finances. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrewdness

Noun

War Secretary Pete Hegseth is mobilizing the Pentagon’s cybersecurity and intelligence resources to protect against foreign interference in the 2026 midterm elections.

— Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 29 Sep. 2026
The State Department’s annual declassified intelligence report has repeatedly concluded that Russia and North Korea have offensive biological weapons programs, while raising concerns about China and Iran.

— Ashish K. Jha, STAT, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of intelligence

Noun

When his inquiry leads directly to a ruthless corporate chairman played by Tony Leung Ka-fai, the two seasoned operators become locked in a battle of wits.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Sep. 2026
What’s a woman at her wit’s end with half her family 200 years in the future to do?

— Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of wit

Noun

Cignetti has tapped into a distinctly Hoosier brand of team pride, which proves that his acumen is just as strong off the football field as on it.

— Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 28 Jan. 2026
The guys up at Auburn rave about his intelligence, his football acumen and his work ethic.

— Creg Stephenson | [email protected], al, 20 Jan. 2023

Definition of acumen

Noun

Those employees can then use tools like Claude Code or apps like Slack to engage agents across a variety of tasks, including data collection and insights, troubleshooting, and job-specific automation.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
The presentation features production puppets, fabrication insights and techniques, plus a live Q&A.

— Clayton Davis, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of insight

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shrewdness

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“Shrewdness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrewdness. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of shrewdness

noun

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