Shrewd, a.
(shrūd), a. [compar. SHREWDER; superl. SHREWDEST.] [Originally the p. p. of shrew, v. t.]
Sense 1. Inclining to shrew; disposing to curse or scold; vexatious; annoying; vicious; wicked. [Obs.]
Every of this number That have endured shrewd nights and days with us. Shak.
He hath shrewd cause to suspect him his enemy. South.
That is a shrewd loss. W. Scott.
Sense 2. Disposed to be critical and censorious. “A shrewd satirist.” Addison.
Sense 3. Astute; sagacious; discriminating; as, a shrewd man.
Sense 4. Involving or displaying an astute or sagacious judgment; as, a shrewd remark or conjecture.
Professing to despise the ill opinion of mankind creates a shrewd suspicion that we have deserved it. Secker.
Synonyms—Keen; vexatious; troublesome; critical; subtle; artful; astute; sagacious; discerning; acute; keen; penetrating.—SHREWD, SAGACIOUS. Shrewd originally meant annoying, contentious, and fault-finding. This sense is now dropped, and yet, perhaps, it slightly influences the present application of the word. One who is shrewd is keen to detect errors, to penetrate false disguises, to foresee and guard against the selfishness of others. It is not, therefore, a word of as much dignity as sagacious, which leads us to think of a man as possessing a comprehensive as well as penetrating mind, whereas shrewd does not.