Does Shrewd Mean Cunning?

"Shrewd" is not necessarily negative - to call a businessman shrewd is generally a compliment, meaning "taking advantage of hidden opportunities". "Cunning" is more negative, meaning "good at deceiving people" (though in the past it used to be equivalent to "cute"!).

Is Shrewd the same as cunning?

As adjectives the difference between cunning and shrewd

is that cunning is sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour while shrewd is showing clever resourcefulness in practical matters.

What does shrewd mean?

shrewd, sagacious, perspicacious, astute mean acute in perception and sound in judgment. shrewd stresses practical, hardheaded cleverness and judgment. a shrewd judge of character sagacious suggests wisdom, penetration, and farsightedness.