Synonyms for shrewd

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Clever
astute, acute, sharp, keen, quick, perceptive, canny, knowing, sagacious, perspicacious, ingenious, sharp; see also clever 1, intelligent 1.
Cunning
calculating, crafty, cagey*; see sly 1.

shrewd implies keenness of mind, sharp insight, and a cleverness in practical matters a shrewd comment, businessman, etc.; sagacious implies keen discernment and farsighted judgment a sagacious counselor; perspicacious suggests the penetrating mental vision or discernment that enables one clearly to see and understand what is obscure, hidden, etc. a perspicacious judge of character; astute implies shrewdness combined with sagacity and sometimes connotes, in addition, artfulness or cunning an astute politician See also syn. study at clever.

See shrewd in Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus II

adjective

Having or showing a clever awareness and resourcefulness in practical matters:

astute, cagey, canny, knowing, perspicacious, slick, smart, wise¹. (Informal) savvy. See ability, careful

See shrewd in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Synonyms

shrewd sagacious astute perspicacious

These adjectives mean having or showing keen awareness, sound judgment, and often resourcefulness, especially in practical matters. Shrewd suggests a sharp intelligence, hardheadness, and often an intuitive grasp of practical considerations: “He was too shrewd to go along with them upon a road which could lead only to their overthrow” (J.A. Froude).
Sagacious connotes prudence, discernment, and farsightedness: “He was observant and thoughtful, and given to asking sagacious questions” (John Galt).
Astute suggests shrewdness, especially with regard to one's own interests: An astute tenant always reads the small print in a lease.
Perspicacious implies penetration and clear-sightedness: She is much too perspicacious to be taken in by such a spurious argument.

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