shrewd
word
Definition
Someone who is shrewd has good judgment and is able to make smart and practical decisions, especially in business or difficult situations.
Usage & Nuances
'Shrewd' is positive, but suggests cleverness with practical benefit, often in business, negotiations, or reading people. Not the same as 'smart,' which is broader. Typical collocations include 'shrewd businessman,' 'shrewd decision,' 'shrewd move.' Avoid using for book smarts or academic contexts.
Spanish: astuto - perspicazPortuguese (BR): astuto - perspicazPortuguese (PT): astuto - perspicazChinese (Simplified): 精明 - 敏锐Chinese (Traditional): 精明 - 敏銳Hindi: चतुर - होशियारArabic: ذكي - فطنBengali: চতুর - বুদ্ধিমান (ব্যবহারিক) - বিচক্ষণRussian: проницательный - хитрый (деловой контекст)Japanese: 抜け目ない - ずる賢い（良い意味で）Vietnamese: sắc sảo - khôn ngoanKorean: 약삭빠른 - 영리한 (실용적인)Turkish: kurnaz - akıllı (pratik)Urdu: چالاک - معاملہ فہم - ذہین (عملی)Indonesian: cerdik - pandai (praktis)
Example Sentences
He is a shrewd businessman.
basic
That was a shrewd decision.
basic
She gave him a shrewd look.
basic
You have to be pretty shrewd to survive in that industry.
natural
Her shrewd questions caught everyone off guard.
natural
Don't underestimate him—he's far more shrewd than he seems.
natural