SHREWD Synonyms: 207 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'shrewd' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of shrewd are astute , perspicacious , and sagacious . While all these words mean "acute in perception and sound in judgment," shrewd stresses practical, hardheaded cleverness and judgment. // a shrewd judge of character

Q: When is it sensible to use 'astute' instead of 'shrewd'?

While the synonyms astute and shrewd are close in meaning, astute suggests shrewdness, perspicacity, and diplomatic skill. // an astute player of party politics

Q: When could 'perspicacious' be used to replace 'shrewd'?

The meanings of perspicacious and shrewd largely overlap; however, perspicacious implies unusual power to see through and understand what is puzzling or hidden. // a perspicacious counselor saw through the child's facade

Q: When might 'sagacious' be a better fit than 'shrewd'?

While in some cases nearly identical to shrewd , sagacious suggests wisdom, penetration, and farsightedness. // sagacious investors got in on the ground floor

shrewd

adjective

ˈshrüd

Definition of shrewd

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in bitter

causing intense discomfort to one's skin she pulled her coat tighter against the shrewd breeze whipping down the alley

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective shrewd differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of shrewd are astute, perspicacious, and sagacious. While all these words mean "acute in perception and sound in judgment," shrewd stresses practical, hardheaded cleverness and judgment.

a shrewd judge of character

When is it sensible to use astute instead of shrewd?

While the synonyms astute and shrewd are close in meaning, astute suggests shrewdness, perspicacity, and diplomatic skill.

an astute player of party politics

When could perspicacious be used to replace shrewd?

The meanings of perspicacious and shrewd largely overlap; however, perspicacious implies unusual power to see through and understand what is puzzling or hidden.

a perspicacious counselor saw through the child's facade

When might sagacious be a better fit than shrewd?

While in some cases nearly identical to shrewd, sagacious suggests wisdom, penetration, and farsightedness.

sagacious investors got in on the ground floor

Example Sentences

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 shrewd With their postseason odds still well below 50 percent, opting to replenish a shallow farm system might have been the shrewdest move. — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 Red Sox executives Craig Breslow and Chaim Bloom, often criticized, have made several shrewd, yet overlooked, decisions. — Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 Circus Circus manages to turn a monthly profit of between $50,000 to $80,000 in the summer season through shrewd tactics, including using unordered prime rib from the hotel’s steakhouse in a buffet stew, the Journal revealed. — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2026 Project 2025, produced by the Heritage Foundation, was more shrewd. — Marc Novicoff, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for shrewd

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrewd

Adjective

Buffalo’s pipeline remains robust, with a good mix of smart, mobile defensemen and dynamic forwards.

— Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
The leader's role, then, is less about being the smartest person in the room than about making the room smarter.

— Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of smart

Adjective

Moscow hopes to sap Ukraine’s will to fight by denying civilians light, heating and running water during the bitter winter months.

— Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
If his mayoral administration continues to elevate emotions over facts, New York is in for a bitter four years.

— Daniel Kolkey, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of bitter

Adjective

Consider, for instance, the institution of oprichnina that Tsar Ivan IV established in 1565, through various cunning moves.

— Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
With the correct number of dots, no arrangement, however cunning, can dodge these shapes forever.

— Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of cunning

Adjective

There is too much going on here for this novel to work, but Andersen is an uncommon writer, a skilled historical novelist as well as an astute cultural observer and historical interpreter.

— John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
Brown is clearly an empath who can read people in an astute way.

— Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of astute

Adjective

To be fair, like the other QBs, Allen is adjusting to a new scheme; none of the three delivered particularly sharp days.

— Charlotte Carroll, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Meanwhile, Lowry, 61, has kept his mental health sharp through his unwavering faith and consistent workouts.

— Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of sharp

Adjective

After Culkin penned a sweet message to Song on Instagram at the time, the actress responded by posting a cute Polaroid-style snap of the couple sharing a kiss on her own Instagram page.

— Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026
There are some really cute rooftop spots in the Beverly Hills area.

— Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of cute

Adjective

While the budget itself is an imprecise source of financial information, its addenda provide troves of useful data for those savvy enough to find them.

— Dan Walters, Oc Register, 14 Aug. 2026
But the current efflorescence can perhaps most be credited to the zeal of online communities whose social dynamics encourage avid, savvy viewership.

— Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of savvy

Adjective

The pacing is more frenetic, the narration more biting, the flashbacks more jarring, and the comedowns much harsher.

— Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
Described as a biting political thriller in the tradition of Wild in the Streets and V for Vendetta, The Hunted is set in a dystopian America where trans people are brutalized and erased to the margins of society.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 20 June 2026

Definition of biting

Browse Nearby Words

shrew

shrewd

shrewdness

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“Shrewd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrewd. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of shrewd

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