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Wary vs Shrewd - What's the difference?

wary | shrewd | Related terms |

As adjectives the difference between wary and shrewd

is that wary is cautious of danger; carefully watching and guarding against deception, artifices, and dangers; timorously or suspiciously prudent; circumspect; scrupulous; careful while shrewd is showing clever resourcefulness in practical matters.

wary

English

(Webster 1913)

Adjective

(er)
  • Cautious of danger; carefully watching and guarding against deception, artifices, and dangers; timorously or suspiciously prudent; circumspect; scrupulous; careful.
    • He is wary of dogs.
  • Characterized by caution; guarded; careful.

    • Synonyms

    * cautious, guarded, careful, chary

    Derived terms

    * unwary * warily * wariness

    Anagrams

    * *

    See also

    * weary

    shrewd

    English

    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.

    Derived terms

    * shrewdly * shrewdness