Meaning & use

shrewdness

noun·Academic

Last updated

The quality of having sharp judgment and practical cleverness, especially in business or dealing with people.

See it in a sentence

Her shrewdness in negotiations saved the company thousands of dollars.

It took real shrewdness to spot the flaw in the contract before signing.

A note on using this word

Usually a positive trait, though it can imply a hint of calculation or self-interest depending on the context.

Words with a similar meaning

astutenesscunningsharpness

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

naivetyfoolishness

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