shrewd stresses practical, hardheaded cleverness and judgment.
a shrewd judge of character
sagacious suggests wisdom, penetration, and farsightedness.
sagacious investors got in on the ground floor
perspicacious implies unusual power to see through and understand what is puzzling or hidden.
a perspicacious counselor saw through the child's facade
astute suggests shrewdness, perspicacity, and diplomatic skill.
an astute player of party politics
Examples of shrewd in a Sentence
According to Frank Luntz, Republican pollster and spinmeister, these younger working women with small children are critical swing voters. By dint of focus groups and shrewd professional questioning, Luntz has determined what these women need most—more time in their lives. He seemed to regard this finding as a considerable coup.—Molly Ivins, Mother Jones, September/October 2004When Ann Richards fractured her hand in a fall nine years ago, she went to the doctor for a bone density test only to learn that she had … an early form of osteoporosis. The diagnosis spurred the former Texas governor, whose mother and grandmother also suffered from the disease, to write I'm Not Slowing Down: Winning My Battle with Osteoporosis … an inspiring little volume filled with the author's shrewd insights into healthcare, gender and, yes, politics.—Julie Hale, Book Page, August 2003One shrewd political tactician who knew what it was like to lose a close election watched Goldwater closely. Nixon had an eye on a comeback in 1968 and knew he needed the South—all of it this time.—Jon Meacham, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2002But a growing empire produces tough challenges. Winfrey is used to ironclad control. A shrewd businesswoman, she still signs all the checks of more than $1,000 for her Harpo Entertainment Group, and she meticulously scrutinizes the smaller ones that others sign for her.—Lynette Clemetson, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2001
She's shrewd about her investments.
a shrewd used car dealer who knew how to make the best possible deal
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Though plot details for Wake Up Dead Man remain tightly under wraps, audiences can expect the return of the shrewd detective parsing through yet another murderous mystery.—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 12 July 2025 But even with that in mind, this was a shrewd bet for the Rangers to make for a couple of reasons.—Harman Dayal, New York Times, 11 July 2025 Drummer Daru Jones, who was part of The LOX’s Tiny Desk, perfectly delivered a live remake of the thumping drums heard on the 2002 track, mirroring The Neptunes’ shrewd production from over two decades ago.—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 11 July 2025 Introduced as a broad, nepo-baby foil to Downs’ pushover-manager character, Jimmy, Kayla evolved from inept assistant to shrewd showbiz strategist.—Judy Berman, Time, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for shrewd
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