Shrewd
mediumPositive toneSHROOD
adjective
Definition
Having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute
Memory hook
SHREW-d: even a tiny shrew survives by being cleverer than larger predators.
Examples
“He made a shrewd business decision that paid off handsomely.”
“Her shrewd negotiating skills secured a favorable deal.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“He made a ______ business decision that paid off handsomely.”
Show answer
shrewd
Categories
GRE Tip
Shrewd is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "astute" or "sagacious" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "naive".
Related GRE Words
sagacious
Having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; wise
astute
Having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage
discerning
Having or showing good judgment or understanding
perceptive
Having or showing sensitive insight
prudent
Acting with or showing care and thought for the future
ingenious
Clever, original, and inventive
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