adjective
astute
uh-STOOT/əˈstuːt/
Quick to understand situations and judge them wisely.
The astute buyer spots a hidden crack beneath the chair's attractive finish.
Etymology
Latin astutus combined cleverness with craftiness and wariness. The selected modern sense emphasizes perceptive judgment rather than the self-interested cunning associated with the older meaning.
In context
she's a very astute business woman and it didn't take her long to learn that you know the gambling business was a pretty slick way to make a lot of money
More examples
- Her astute questions revealed a problem everyone else had missed.
- He made an astute investment before the area became popular.
- The negotiator offered an astute assessment of both sides' concerns.
Forms
astutely adverb — With sharp understanding and sound judgment.
Similar words
- shrewd
- Often emphasizes practical advantage and calculating judgment.
- perceptive
- Emphasizes noticing and understanding rather than making wise decisions.