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
Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025
Slot has been shrewd in knowing where to stick and where to twist when assessing the strengths of his squad, with a humility that is admired by those in the game.
—Andy Jones, New York Times, 29 May 2025
Ross expected growth and shrewd moves from Garfinkel on the business side of his enterprise.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 20 May 2025
To the world, Seema is a shrewd real estate broker.
—Lisa Stardust, People.com, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shrewd
Adjective
Earlier this spring, Johnson talked openly about pushing Swift to combine his sharp vision with shrewd discipline.
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025
Slot has been shrewd in knowing where to stick and where to twist when assessing the strengths of his squad, with a humility that is admired by those in the game.
—Andy Jones, New York Times, 29 May 2025
Ross expected growth and shrewd moves from Garfinkel on the business side of his enterprise.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 20 May 2025
To the world, Seema is a shrewd real estate broker.
—Lisa Stardust, People.com, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shrewd
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrewd
Adjective
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One of the challenges comes from a fundamental problem in how smart city initiatives are executing the ever-changing digital movement.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
1 July 2025
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The lead character is the prince, who doesn’t want to be on the throne and is not really that smart.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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Pashinyan was the focus of protests last year by tens of thousands of demonstrators after Armenia agreed to hand over control of several border villages to Azerbaijan and to normalize relations between the neighbors and bitter rivals.—
Avet Demourian,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2025
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But the two mainstays of the game are far from bitter rivals.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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With wit and cunning, the protagonists navigate the ever-present systems of oppression that encircle them and their relationships.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 June 2025
-
President Trump does not exhibit Bismarck’s cunning, inscrutability, or proclivity for complicated diplomacy.—
Charles C. W. Cooke,
National Review,
24 June 2025
Noun
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In an interview with Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, Bartiromo brought up a Truth Social post from Trump saying Democrats had leaked intelligence around the Iran strike, to which the president interjected that they should be prosecuted.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
29 June 2025
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This is embodied intelligence – the idea that some elements of cognition can be outsourced to the body.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
29 June 2025
Adjective
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Although there are no easy solutions to these multiplying threats, U.S. leaders can significantly mitigate them by making astute, yet still modest, changes to the arsenal itself and to the overall role of nuclear strategy in U.S. foreign and defense policy.—
VIPIN NARANG,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
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The 51-year-old is widely considered one of the most astute tacticians in the Premier League and has been the figurehead of one of the smartest, shrewdest clubs anywhere in European soccer for the last seven years.—
Graham Ruthven,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has publicly stated that recent U.S. and Israeli airstrikes inflicted serious damage on Iran's nuclear sites, a sharp contrast to the downplaying by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and one early U.S. intelligence assessment that was leaked to media.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 June 2025
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It’s measured in sharper thinking, richer conversations, and better decisions.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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Amazon is stocked with tons of cute coin purses that capture the kawaii aesthetic of Japanese street style.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
25 June 2025
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Pair this long-line padded sports bra crop tank with a pair of leggings for a cute athletic look.—
Nora Colomer
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
24 June 2025
Noun
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Opening pages show Toews’ characteristic wit and guile squaring off against extraordinary pain.—
Literary Hub
July 1,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2025
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His latest album, 12th of June, released in 2022 on Verve/Forecast, are personal and characterized by Lovett’s singular wit, proving that the lessons of his early Texas singer-songwriter days remain an influence on his songwriting.—
Glenn Peoples,
Billboard,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shrewd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrewd. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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