shrewdness
Keen practical intelligence
Shrewdness is sharp practical judgment, especially in matters of self-interest.
A shrewd person sees through deception, anticipates others' moves, and knows how to gain advantage.
The word carries a note of cunning—shrewdness isn't wisdom or moral insight, but the ability to size up a situation and act strategically: His shrewdness in negotiations made him wealthy.
Sharpness of mind
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- witClever, inventive humor
- clevernessMental quickness and skill
- keennessSharpness of perception
acuity · perspicacity · astuteness · sharpness · brainpower · brilliance · genius · aptitude
Penetrating mental acuity
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
- prudenceCareful, wise judgment
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
- discernmentKeen perception and judgment
understanding · perception · sapience · erudition · enlightenment · depth · profoundness · circumspection
Cleverly deceptive
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- craftyCleverly deceptive
- cannyShrewdly practical and cautious
- deviousUnderhanded and calculating
artful · scheming · wily · manipulative · sneaky · foxiness · deceitful · conniving
Practical shrewdness
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- dealmakingNegotiating mutual agreements
- bargainingNegotiating mutually acceptable terms
- hagglingNegotiating a lower price
trading · entrepreneurial · commercial · mercantile · investor · speculator · profiteering · arbitrage
Deep perceptive understanding
- perceptiveQuick to understand
- discerningHaving keen judgment
- keenSharp or enthusiastic
- observantNoticing things readily
penetrating · intuition · awareness · alertness · attentiveness · vigilance · watchfulness · reading
State of awaiting something
- planningArranging for future events
- strategicDeliberately planned for advantage
- forecastingEstimating future conditions
- prudenceCareful, wise judgment
proactive · forethought · precaution · preparedness · preemptive · calculated · long-term · visionary
acumen
Sharpness of mind
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- witClever, inventive humor
- clevernessMental quickness and skill
keenness · acuity · perspicacity · astuteness · sharpness · brainpower · brilliance · genius · aptitude · cognitive
sagacity
Penetrating mental acuity
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
- prudenceCareful, wise judgment
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
discernment · understanding · perception · sapience · erudition · enlightenment · depth · profoundness · circumspection · advisement
sly
Cleverly deceptive
devious · artful · scheming · wily · manipulative · sneaky · foxiness · deceitful · conniving · duplicitous
savvy
Practical shrewdness
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- dealmakingNegotiating mutual agreements
- bargainingNegotiating mutually acceptable terms
haggling · trading · entrepreneurial · commercial · mercantile · investor · speculator · profiteering · arbitrage · leverage
insight
Deep perceptive understanding
- perceptiveQuick to understand
- discerningHaving keen judgment
- keenSharp or enthusiastic
observant · penetrating · intuition · awareness · alertness · attentiveness · vigilance · watchfulness · reading · assessment
anticipation
State of awaiting something
- planningArranging for future events
- strategicDeliberately planned for advantage
- forecastingEstimating future conditions
prudence · proactive · forethought · precaution · preparedness · preemptive · calculated · long-term · visionary · prescience
- collective nounsflock, herd, school, pack, swarm
- cunningcunning, craftiness, crafty, guile, slyness
- intellectintelligence, intellect, brainpower, mind, cognition
- witwit, witticism, quip, cleverness, repartee
- judgmentgood judgment, sound judgment, discernment, prudence, judiciousness
- primate groupstroop, band, cartload, barrel, family group
shrewdnessstupidity
Lack of intelligence
dullness · obtuseness · denseness · dimness · dumbness
shrewdnessfoolishness
Unwise conduct
folly · imprudence · recklessness · poor judgment · silliness
shrewd, shrew, shrewdly, shrewish, shrewder, shrewdest, shrewishness