Meaning
shrewd, crafty
- Clever, sharp, and adept at securing an advantage; crafty or shrewd.
In a sentence
È un negoziatore troppo scaltro per farsi ingannare così.
He is too shrewd a negotiator to be tricked like that.
Con una mossa scaltra, l'avvocato ha ribaltato la situazione.
With a crafty move, the lawyer turned the situation around.
Non fidarti subito: sembra sincero, ma è molto scaltro.
Don't trust him right away: he seems sincere, but he is very crafty.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| scaltro | masculine · singular |
| scaltra | feminine · singular |
| scaltri | masculine · plural |
| scaltre | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Can have a mildly negative connotation (cunning, sly) or a positive one (quick-witted, astute).