Shrewd vs Canny - What's the difference?
shrewd | canny |
showing clever resourcefulness in practical matters
artful, tricky or cunning
streetwise
*
knowledgeable
* {{quote-news
, year=2011
, date=November 10
, author=Jeremy Wilson
, title=tEngland Under 21 5 Iceland Under 21 0: match report
, work=Telegraph
(archaic) Scolding, satirical, sharp.
* 1599 ,
Careful, prudent, cautious.
Knowing, shrewd, astute.
Frugal, thrifty.
(Scotland, Northumbria) Pleasant, fair.
* 1783 , (Robert Burns), "Green Grow the Rashes O", Songs and Ballads
(Northumbria) Very or much.
As adjectives the difference between shrewd and canny
is that shrewd is showing clever resourcefulness in practical matters while canny is careful, prudent, cautious.shrewd
English
Adjective
(er)citation, page= , passage=The most persistent tormentor was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who scored a hat-trick in last month’s corresponding fixture in Iceland. His ability to run at defences is instantly striking, but it is his clever use of possession that has persuaded some shrewd judges that he is an even better prospect than Theo Walcott. }}
- LEONATO. By my troth, niece, thou wilt never get thee a husband, if thou be so shrewd of thy tongue.
Derived terms
* shrewdly * shrewdnesscanny
English
Adjective
(er)- (Ramsay)
- (Sir Walter Scott)
- She's a canny lass hor like!
- But gie me a cannie hour at e'en,
- My arms about my dearie O;
- An' warl'y cares, an' warl'y men,
- Mae a' gae tapsalteerie O!
- That's a canny big horse, man!