shrewd — having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute and clever in practical matters
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute and clever in practical matters
Pronunciation (IPA): /ʃruːd/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother is so shrewd that she can spot a fake designer bag from a mile away.
- The shrewd investor bought the stock when everyone else was selling.
- He made a shrewd guess that the pop quiz would be about last night's homework.
shrewd
ADJECTIVE[/ʃruːd/]
having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute and clever in practical matters

The shrewd merchant spots the flaw in the gem before anyone else notices.

The shrewd diner sees past crude looks to find the finest food!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Middle English 'shrewe' meaning a wicked or mischievous person, derived from Old English 'screawa' (shrew, the animal). The meaning evolved from describing a shrewish or quarrelsome person to describing someone with sharp judgment or cunning intelligence.
Breakdown
shrew (small, sharp-sighted animal) + -ed (adjective suffix) = shrewd (having sharp powers of judgment like a shrew)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother is so shrewd that she can spot a fake designer bag from a mile away.”
“The shrewd investor bought the stock when everyone else was selling.”
“He made a shrewd guess that the pop quiz would be about last night's homework.”
“The shrewd detective noticed the tiny detail that solved the whole case.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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