Definition of SHREWD

shrewd

Meanings

Adjective Satellite

  • marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
    • "he was too shrewd to go along with them on a road that could lead only to their overthrow"
  • used of persons

Adj

  • Showing clever resourcefulness in practical matters.
  • Artful, tricky or cunning.
  • streetwise, street-smart.
  • Knowledgeable, intelligent, keen.
  • Nigh accurate.
  • Severe, intense, hard.
  • Sharp, snithy, piercing.
  • Bad, evil, threatening.
  • Portending, boding.
  • Noxious, scatheful, mischievous.
  • Abusive, shrewish.
  • Scolding, satirical, sharp.

Origin / 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.

Scrabble Score: 13

shrewd is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
shrewd is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
shrewd is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 12

shrewd is a valid Words With Friends word