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astutehaving or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage; shrewd

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage; shrewd

Pronunciation (IPA): /əˈstut/

Example Sentences

  • The astute detective noticed that the suspect's alibi had a tiny but crucial flaw.
  • My astute grandmother always knows when I'm lying - she can spot my 'poker face' from a mile away!
  • Her astute investment choices made her a millionaire before age 30.

astute

ADJECTIVE

[/əˈstut/]

having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage; shrewd

The astute detective spotted the tiny clue everyone else missed.
💡 Concept

The astute detective spotted the tiny clue everyone else missed.

AS(like) + TUTE(tutor) — stepping up to act AS a TUTEor for the confused adults, the little boy showed an incredibly astute mind.
🧠 Mnemonic

AS(like) + TUTE(tutor) — stepping up to act AS a TUTEor for the confused adults, the little boy showed an incredibly astute mind.

Even though the security video was completely on mute, the astute detective easily read the criminal's lips to find the truth.
🎵 Rhyme

Even though the security video was completely on mute, the astute detective easily read the criminal's lips to find the truth.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/əˈstut/
🇬🇧 UK/əˈstjuːt/

🌳Etymology

Rootastut
Suffix--e

Origin

From Latin 'astutus', meaning shrewd or clever, possibly derived from 'astus' meaning craft or cunning. The word entered English in the 16th century, maintaining its meaning of keen judgment and shrewdness.

Breakdown

Latin 'astutus' (shrewd, clever) - no productive morphemes in English, used as a whole borrowed adjective from Latin

🎵Rhyme

suitfruitrouteshoot
suit
fruit
route
shoot

🔗Collocations

astute observation
astute businessman
astute political move
astute investor
astute analysis
politically astute

📝Examples

The astute detective noticed that the suspect's alibi had a tiny but crucial flaw.

😄 Fun example

My astute grandmother always knows when I'm lying - she can spot my 'poker face' from a mile away!

Her astute investment choices made her a millionaire before age 30.

😄 Fun example

The astute student realized the professor always asked questions from the last paragraph of each chapter.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

shrewdperceptivesharpcleverkeen

Antonyms

naivegullibleobtuse

Related

acuteinsightfuldiscerningsagacious

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