SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
shrewd
adjective
Quick to understand a situation and make effective practical judgments.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Sharp practical judgment
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topShrewd can be admiring or wary. Crafty and calculating more readily suggest manipulation or self-interest.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See shrewd in use
The shrewd negotiator noticed that both groups wanted the same opening date.
A shrewd carpenter noticed that short wood offcuts could become the small display feet, meeting a practical need with materials otherwise left unused.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license