Synonyms for shrewd
ʃrudshrewd

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. shrewd

   Acute, from the Latin, suggests the sharpness of the needle's point; keen, from the Saxon, the sharpness of the cutting edge. Astute, from the Latin, with the original sense of cunning has come to have a meaning that combines the sense of acute or keen with that of sagacious. The astute mind adds to acuteness and keenness an element of cunning or finesse. The astute debater leads his opponents into a snare by getting them to make admissions, or urge arguments, of which he sees a result that they do not perceive. The acute, keen intellect may take no special advantage of these qualities; the astute mind has always a point to make for itself, and seldom fails to make it. A knowing look, air, etc., in general indicates practical knowledge with a touch of shrewdness, and perhaps of cunning; in regard to some special matter, it indicates the possession of reserved knowledge which the person could impart if he chose. Knowing has often a slightly invidious sense. We speak of a knowing rascal, meaning cunning or shrewd within a narrow range, but of a knowing horse or dog, in the sense of sagacious, implying that he knows more than could be expected of such an animal. A knowing child has more knowledge than would be looked for at his years, perhaps more than is quite desirable, while to speak of a child as intelligent is altogether complimentary.

   Synonyms:
   acute, astute, clear-sighted, crafty, cunning, discerning, discriminating, keen, knowing, penetrating, penetrative, perspicacious, sagacious, sharp, subtile, subtle

   Antonyms:
   blind, dull, idiotic, imbecile, shallow, short-sighted, stolid, stupid, undiscerning, unintelligent

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. shrewd

   Synonyms:
   sagacious, penetrating, astute, discriminating, intelligent, discerning, acute

   Antonyms:
   stolid, undiscerning, unsagacious, stupid, dull

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. astute, sharp, shrewdadjective

   marked by practical hardheaded intelligence

   "a smart businessman"; "an astute tenant always reads the small print in a lease"; "he was too shrewd to go along with them on a road that could lead only to their overthrow"

   Synonyms:
   abrupt, shrill, astute, sharp, incisive, conniving, knifelike, crisp, keen, calculating, scheming, needlelike, precipitous, discriminating, tart, sharp-worded, acute, calculative, acuate, penetrating, piercing, penetrative

   Antonyms:
   stupid, soft

2. calculating, calculative, conniving, scheming, shrewdadjective

   used of persons

   "the most calculating and selfish men in the community"

   Synonyms:
   scheming, calculative, designing, calculating, conniving, sharp, astute, collusive

   Antonyms:
   stupid, soft

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:3.5 / 2 votes

1. shrewdadjective

   Synonyms:
   artful, cunning, sly, wily, subtle, crafty, arch, astute, machiavelian

2. shrewdadjective

   Synonyms:
   sagacious, acute, sharp, quick, keen, ingenious, discerning, intelligent, deep, profound

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. shrewdadjective

   Synonyms:
   astute, sharp, cunning, crafty, wily, artful, long-headed

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:5.0 / 1 vote

1. List of paraphrases for "shrewd":

   astute, cunning, clever, perceptive, insightful, smart

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How to use shrewd in a sentence?

1. Adolph Hitler, Mein Kampf:

   By means of shrewd lies, unremittingly repeated, it is possible to make people believe that heaven is hell -- and hell heaven. The greater the lie, the more readily it will be believed.

2. John Brown:

   Be mild with the mild, shrewd with the crafty, confiding to the honest, rough to the ruffian, and a thunderbolt to the liar. But in all this, never be unmindful of your own dignity.

3. Paul McGinley:

   I think it's a shrewd move, they (the U.S.) have lost eight of the last 10 Ryder Cups. If you're a business and your profits keep going down, what you would do is step back, reassess everything. Put some new things in place.

4. Arndt Ellinghorst:

   Marchionne is a shrewd operator and rightly investors have been asking what was the purpose of yesterday's presentation and what was Marchionne trying to achieve, in our view the answer is very simple; he is looking to force a marriage for FCA.

5. Norman Vincent Peale:

   Never say anything to hurt anyone. Moreover . . . refrain from double talk, from shrewd and canny remarks that are designed to advance our interests at someone's disadvantage. We are to turn our back upon evil, and in every way possible, do good, help people and bring blessings into their lives.