Adjective

(er)

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 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. }}

(archaic) Scolding, satirical, sharp.

* 1599 ,

LEONATO. By my troth, niece, thou wilt never get thee a husband, if thou be so shrewd of thy tongue.

Adjective

(en adjective)

Stubbornly adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course, usually with implied unreasonableness; persistent.

* 1686 , , "That men are justly punished for being obstinate in the defence of a fort that is not in reason to be defended",

From this consideration it is that we have derived the custom, in times of war, to punish

Said of inanimate things not easily subdued or removed.

* 1927 , ,

Now it happened that Kasturbai had again begun getting haemorrhage, and the malady seemed to be obstinate .