1. (a.) Astute; sharp; wily; cunning; as, a shrewd politician\.

2. (a.) Inclining to shrew; disposing to curse or scold; hence, vicious; malicious; evil; wicked; mischievous; vexatious; rough; unfair; shrewish.

3. (superl.) Able or clever in practical affairs; sharp in business; astute; sharp-witted; sagacious; keen; as, a shrewd observer; a shrewd design; a shrewd reply.

Byzantine Daedalian Machiavellian Machiavellic acute all-knowing apperceptive appercipient apprehending apprehensive arch artful astute aware cagey calculated calculating canny clever cognizant comprehending conscious crafty cunning cute deceitful deep deep-laid designing devious diplomatic discerning farsighted feline foresighted foxy guileful heady ingenious insidious insightful intelligent inventive judicious keen knowing knowledgeable manipulative mindful omniscient pawky penetrating perceptive percipient perspicacious piercing polite politic prehensile probing prudent quick-witted ready resourceful sagacious sage savvy scheming sensible serpentine sharp shifty slick slippery sly smart smooth snaky sneaky sophistical stealthy strategic subtile subtle supple tactical tidy trickish tricksy tricky understanding vulpine wary wily wise