astute
astute
Pronunciation
astute /əˈstuːt/
a /ə/ (schwa sound)
stute /stuːt/
Word Form Variations
Adjective: astute
Adverb: astutely
Noun: astuteness
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
astute
Having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage; possessing keen practical intelligence and shrewdness.
Synonyms: shrewd, sharp, acute, clever, sagacious, discerning, perspicacious, canny, insightful, intelligent
Antonyms: naive, foolish, unintelligent, obtuse, imprudent, unwitting
Adverb
astutely
In a way that shows an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage; with keen practical intelligence and shrewdness.
Synonyms: shrewdly, sharply, acutely, cleverly, sagaciously, discerningly, perspicaciously, cannily, insightfully, intelligently
Antonyms: naively, foolishly, unintelligently, obtusely, imprudently, unwittingly
Noun
astuteness
The quality of having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage; keen practical intelligence and shrewdness.
Synonyms: shrewdness, sharpness, acumen, sagacity, discernment, perspicacity, canniness, insight, intelligence, cleverness
Antonyms: naivete, foolishness, unintelligence, obtuseness, imprudence
Examples of Use
Books: "Sherlock Holmes, with his astute observations and deductive reasoning, quickly unraveled the most perplexing mysteries." (from a literary analysis of Arthur Conan Doyle's works)
Newspapers: "The senator's astute political maneuvering ensured the bill's passage despite strong opposition." ( The Washington Post, October 2023)
Online Publications: "Tech companies are constantly on the lookout for astute investors who can identify emerging trends and opportunities." (Forbes.com, April 2024)
Entertainment (Film): In the film Moneyball, Billy Beane is portrayed as an astute general manager who revolutionizes baseball scouting with data-driven analysis.
Entertainment (Television): "The protagonist of the detective series is an astute profiler, able to glean crucial insights from the most subtle clues." (review of a popular crime drama, March 2025)
Entertainment (Video Games): "Players must be astute strategists in this real-time strategy game, adapting to shifting battle conditions and anticipating opponent moves." (game review, December 2024)
General Public Discourse: "She's an incredibly astute businesswoman; she always seems to know exactly when to buy and when to sell." (conversation among colleagues, July 2025)
General Public Discourse: "His astute comments during the debate really highlighted the weaknesses in the opposing argument." (online forum discussion, June 2025)
10 Famous Quotes Using Astute
"One of the funny things about the stock market is that every time one person buys, another sells, and both think they are astute." - William Feather
"Well, I don't know how astute I am, but I did want to be a journalist when I was growing up." - Carol Burnett
"Perhaps I can say that I am a bit astute, that I can adapt to circumstances, but it is also true that I am a bit naive." - Pope Francis
"The greatest presidents have been those who demonstrated astute judgment in times of crisis - often despite the advice they were getting." - Robert Dallek
"I love astute observations and really great wordplay." - Greg Behrendt
"Studying design has made me a much, much more astute observer of this aspect of business." - Daniel H. Pink
"To make astute people believe one is what one is not is, in most cases, harder than actually to become what one wishes to appear." - Georg C. Lichtenberg
"In the words of Erich Fromm, an astute observer of the roots and fruits of the Personality Ethic: Today we come across an individual who behaves like an automaton, who does not know or understand himself, and the only person that he knows is the person that he is supposed to1 be." - Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
"Sherlock Holmes was an astute detective, known for his powers of deduction." - (Commonly attributed to descriptions of the character created by Arthur Conan Doyle)
"The astute see an evil and hide, while the naive continue on and pay the penalty." - Proverbs 22:3 (New American Bible Revised Edition)
Etymology
Sure, let's break down the etymology of "astute" in a simple way!
The word "astute" comes to us from Latin. It's rooted in the Latin word "astūtus," which meant "crafty," "cunning," or "shrewd."
If we go back even further, "astūtus" itself comes from the Latin noun "astus," meaning "craft" or "cunning."
So, essentially, the core idea behind "astute" has always been about cleverness, sharpness, and a keen ability to navigate situations or understand things.
The first known use of "astute" in English, with a meaning very similar to what we use today – referring to someone who is shrewd, discerning, and good at judging situations – appeared around the early 17th century. It entered English through French, which had also adopted the Latin "astūtus."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Astute
Astute observer: Someone who notices details and understands situations quickly.
Astute decision: A wise and well-judged choice.
Astute analysis: A sharp and insightful examination of something.
Astute mind: A keen and intelligent intellect.
An astute business move: A clever and well-calculated action in business.
A shrewd operator: (using a synonym for similar effect) Someone who is very clever and effective in their dealings.
A sharp eye for detail: (using a synonym for similar effect) Excellent at noticing small, important things.
Quick-witted and astute: Describing someone who is both mentally agile and perceptive.
To make an astute judgment: To form a very accurate and sensible opinion.
An astute political strategist: Someone highly skilled at planning and executing political maneuvers.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of astute from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
