shrewd

Adjective

Synonyms: astute sharp calculating calculative conniving scheming

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (2)

marked by practical hardheaded intelligence“a smart businessman”“an astute tenant always reads the small print in a lease”“he was too shrewd to go along with them on a road that could lead only to their overthrow”Synonyms: astute sharp
used of persons“the most calculating and selfish men in the community”Synonyms: calculating calculative conniving scheming

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Shrewd \Shrewd\, a. [Compar. Shrewder; superl. Shrewdest.] [Originally the p. p. of shrew, v.t.]

1.Inclining to shrew; disposing to curse or scold; hence, vicious; malicious; evil; wicked; mischievous; vexatious; rough; unfair; shrewish. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

[Egypt] hath many shrewd havens, because of the great rocks that ben strong and dangerous to pass by.— Sir J. Mandeville.[1913 Webster]

Every of this happy number That have endured shrewd days and nights with us.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

2.Artful; wily; cunning; arch. [1913 Webster]

These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

3.Able or clever in practical affairs; sharp in business; astute; sharp-witted; sagacious; keen; as, a shrewd observer; a shrewd design; a shrewd reply. [1913 Webster]

Professing to despise the ill opinion of mankind creates a shrewd suspicion that we have deserved it.— Secker.[1913 Webster]

Syn: Keen; critical; subtle; artful; astute; sagacious; discerning; acute; penetrating.

Usage: Shrewd, Sagacious. One who is shrewd is keen to detect errors, to penetrate disguises, to foresee and guard against the selfishness of others. Shrewd is a word of less dignity than sagacious, which implies a comprehensive as well as penetrating mind, whereas shrewd does not. [1913 Webster] -- Shrewd"ly, adv. -- Shrewd"ness, n. [1913 Webster]