Word
shrewd
US/ˈʃɹud/
UK/ʃɹˈuːd/
Definitions
01clever and practical
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. having or showing sharp powers of judgment; being clever at getting what you want in a practical way.
adj. demonstrating astute or sharp judgment in practical matters, particularly where one's own interests are concerned.
“She made a shrewd investment in the tech company before its stock price doubled.”
“The CEO's shrewd assessment of the market trends allowed the firm to pivot its strategy months before its competitors even noticed the shift.”
Synonyms
02streetwise or cunning
C1 · Advanced Informal
adj. clever in a way that is sometimes tricky or shows you know how the world really works.
adj. possessing a practical, sometimes calculating intelligence; often used to describe someone who is street-smart or difficult to deceive.
“He is a shrewd negotiator who knows exactly when to walk away from a deal.”
“Growing up in a tough neighbourhood had made him shrewd, teaching him to read people's intentions long before they spoke.”
03severe or piercing
C2 · Proficiency Literary · British English
adj. used to describe a feeling or weather that is very sharp, cold, or painful.
adj. describing physical sensations or weather conditions that are sharp, piercing, or intensely cold.
“A shrewd wind blew across the open fields, making everyone shiver.”
“The hikers struggled against a shrewd morning frost that seemed to bite through even their heaviest winter gear.”
Real-World Examples
“Sánchez is known to be a shrewd political survivor who won the last general election when all the polls suggested that the PP’s Alberto Núñez Feijóo would be Spain’s next prime minister.” “Based on the available evidence , she appears to have been a shrewd businesswoman who opened her bathhouse to customers.” “The shrewd king cross-questions Nameless, establishing that his stories are untrue.” Etymology
From Middle English schrewed (“depraved; wicked”, literally “accursed”), from schrewen (“to curse; beshrew”), from schrewe, schrowe, screwe (“evil or wicked person/thing”), from Old English sċrēawa (“wicked person”, literally “biter”). Equivalent to shrew + -ed. More at shrew. The sense of "cunning" developed in early 16ᵗʰ c., gradually gaining a positive connotation by 17ᵗʰ c.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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