1
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
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2
as in bitter
causing intense discomfort to one's skin
she pulled her coat tighter against the shrewd breeze whipping down the alley
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3
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shrewd
But with a few shrewd changes from page to screen, Benedict asking Sophie to be his mistress feels more like a last resort than a first instinct, clearing the path to a smoother happily ever after when the show returns in February.
—
Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 30 Jan. 2026
Advertisement Maine Susan Collins might just be the shrewdest incumbent Republican on this year’s map.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
Flamboyant and fun, Dirksen was also shrewd, hardworking and tough-minded.
—John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Normally, a shrewd viewer can look at such a lineup and guess who the villains are going to be, since such roles typically attract strong actors.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrewd
Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 30 Jan. 2026
Advertisement Maine Susan Collins might just be the shrewdest incumbent Republican on this year’s map.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
Flamboyant and fun, Dirksen was also shrewd, hardworking and tough-minded.
—John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Normally, a shrewd viewer can look at such a lineup and guess who the villains are going to be, since such roles typically attract strong actors.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrewd
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrewd
Adjective
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The gold standard of smart watches, the Apple Watch can do just about everything your iPhone can, all from your wrist.—
John Monaco,
InStyle,
7 Feb. 2026
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At the end of the day, Amodei said, people still enjoy interacting with other humans, with very smart and capable AI complementing them.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Its leader, Tarique Rahman, the son of former prime minister and bitter Hasina rival, the late Khaleda Zia, has since returned to Bangladesh after 17 years of exile and now appears the frontrunner to win.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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Their 32 points after 25 games have them one above their Sunday hosts and bitter rivals in 13th place in the Premier League, nine clear of the relegation zone.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Goldsworthy has made cunning edits of the landscape throughout Penpont.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
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Perhaps most perceptively captivating is the sweetly cunning way Marczak inserts himself into the film.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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All this is strange and disappointing, because Holmes is a gifted biographer, not to mention a fluent translator of science and an astute reader of poetry.—
Kathryn Schulz,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
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But the astute self-awareness ends there.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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That's partly correlation -- healthier people are more likely to work than sicker people -- but staying in the workplace can also help people stay sharp, according to Debra Whitman, chief public policy officer for AARP.—
Paige Winfield Cunningham The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
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The tension in a luge sled allows athletes to manipulate it just so, digging in the runners and steering with sharp precision around curves.—
Lindsay Schnell,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Puppy Bowl isn’t just cute — it’s built around adoption, heart and moments that matter beyond Super Bowl Sunday.—
Kelsey Monstrola,
USA Today,
7 Feb. 2026
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Don’t be shy when playing around with colors, patterns, and cute Galentine’s motifs.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
8 Feb. 2026
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Disney and 20th Century’s bloody comedy-thriller, which follows a dorky, survival-savvy employee (Rachel McAdams) and her douchey younger boss (Dylan O’Brien) who become stranded together on a remote island, should add $9 million to $10 million by Sunday for a total domestic gross of $34 million.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Chill Factor Perhaps the most biting statistic of the season so far is the temperature.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Morbidly Jewish finds Raanan at his most biting, acerbic, angry, Jewish, and, as always…loud.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrewd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrewd. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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