1
as in smart
having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment
a shrewd used car dealer who knew how to make the best possible deal shrewd investments that paid off big
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2
as in bitter
causing intense discomfort to one's skin
she pulled her coat tighter against the shrewd breeze whipping down the alley
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3
as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
a shrewd operator in the real estate game, she made every buyer think they were getting the deal of the century
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shrewd
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
Adjective
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
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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
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Even smart bulbs and other kinds of smart lighting often require less power than traditional lights.—
Simon Hill,
Wired News,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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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
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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
Noun
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Roughly 600 North Korean troops have been killed fighting alongside Russia against Ukraine, South Korean lawmakers said on Wednesday, citing the country's intelligence agency.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2025
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For example, digital intelligence can infer customer perceptions through non-survey channels such as online interactions.—
Forrester,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This is an astute observation from perhaps hockey’s most astute coach.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
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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
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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
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Once seen as a wild card with surprising appeal among disillusioned young voters, President Donald Trump is now facing a sharp decline in support from Generation Z, according to new polling.—
Mark Weinstein,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Save on breezy skirts, cute jeans, and stretchy yoga pants that are ideal for travel.—
Isabel Garcia,
People.com,
26 Apr. 2025
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More: Are cute children's books teaching kids about gender and sexuality?—
Stephen J. Beard,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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With a breezy wit displayed over his thirty-plus-year career (including his breakout commentary during the 2024 Olympics which cemented his global influence), the artist observed the rare confluence of holidays with a simple image of himself as the Easter Bunny on X, formerly Twitter.—
Jeanie Pyun,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Apr. 2025
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Maher, who has spent decades fine-tuning his brand of biting, socially charged humor to make sense of complex, often uncomfortable issues, brings a sharp wit that’s more thoughtful and layered than he’s often given credit for.—
Margie Warrell,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
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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