Shrewd

Shrewd describes someone who is very clever and practical, especially at making good judgments or decisions. It often suggests sharp, sometimes slightly hard-edged, intelligence.

“Shrewd” originally meant wicked or malicious in Middle English, from “shrew,” a term for a bad-tempered person (and a small animal). Over time, the meaning softened from morally bad to sharply clever, especially in business or politics. The idea of ‘sharpness’ stayed, but the value judgment changed.