shrewd

/ʃruːd/ (bre, ipa) · /ʃruːd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈshrüd especially Southern ˈsrüd/ (ame, mw)

shrewd — adjective

  • shrewdpositive
  • shrewdercomparative
  • shrewdestsuperlative

1. quick to see what is really happening and ready to use that understanding to com

1.形容詞C1
釋義

quick to see what is really happening and ready to use that understanding to come out ahead

例句

Bao made a shrewd move by renewing the lease before prices rose.

collocation: shrewd move

The coach was shrewd enough to rest Minh before the final.

pattern: shrewd enough to + infinitive

同義詞
  • astute

    very close, but slightly more neutral and formal

  • canny

    often suggests careful calculation, especially in British English

  • sharp

    more informal and broader; does not always imply advantage-seeking

  • calculating

    more negative; stresses cold self-interest

反義詞
  • naive

    too trusting to notice what others are doing

  • gullible

    easily tricked instead of seeing through a plan

  • short-sighted

    fails to notice the longer-term advantage

文法句型

shrewd + noun (move, comment, answer, negotiator)

be shrewd enough to + infinitive

用法筆記

Often describes someone who reads motives or changing conditions quickly and then protects their own position. It commonly appears in business, political, and negotiating contexts and can sound a little tougher than 'astute'.

常見錯誤

❌She was shrewd with her brother's grief.
✅She was sensitive to her brother's grief.
💡'shrewd' is about practical advantage, not emotional care.
❌The nurse gave a shrewd smile to calm the child.
✅The nurse gave a reassuring smile to calm the child.
💡'shrewd' does not usually describe warmth or kindness.

2. showing solid, realistic judgment in money, business, and other everyday practic

2.形容詞C1
釋義

showing solid, realistic judgment in money, business, and other everyday practical decisions

例句

Gita is shrewd about hiring and never takes the first applicant.

pattern: shrewd about + noun

The family stayed profitable through two bad harvests because Tariro is shrewd with money.

pattern: shrewd with money

同義詞
  • sensible

    stresses balanced, reasonable choices more than sharp calculation

  • savvy

    more informal; often about practical know-how or technical understanding

  • businesslike

    focuses on efficient, practical behavior rather than insight

  • canny

    close in meaning, especially for careful money decisions

反義詞
  • impractical

    not guided by what will actually work

  • wasteful

    careless with money or resources

  • naive

    lacking the experience to judge a practical situation well

文法句型

be shrewd about + noun

be shrewd with + money

shrewd + noun (manager, planner, investor)

用法筆記

This sense is usually about money, staffing, trade, or other real-world choices where being realistic matters. Unlike sense 1, it does not need a moment of outsmarting someone; it is more about dependable practical judgment.

常見錯誤

❌She is shrewd at algebra.
✅She is good at algebra.
💡'shrewd' praises practical judgment, not school skill by itself.
❌He is shrewd because he remembers every date in history.
✅He is clever because he remembers every date in history.
💡memory alone does not make someone 'shrewd'.