What is another word for savvy?
Savvy is most commonly used as an adjective to describe a person who’s generally
knowledgeable,
experienced, and
well-informed. Synonyms that capture these same qualities are
shrewd,
astute, and
canny. These terms often suggest that a person is generally
intelligent and knows how to handle different situations, especially practical matters—that they’re
discerning and have good
judgment.
Savvy can also be used as a noun referring to general
shrewdness and
common sense. Synonyms for this sense include
acumen and
know-how. The word
savviness can mean the same thing. Sometimes,
savvy is used in combination with other words that indicate the specific area in which someone is knowledgeable or experienced, such as
tech-savvy and
computer-savvy.
Savvy is also sometimes used as a slang term at the end of a sentence, essentially as a way of saying
Do you understand? Other ways of saying this are
Capiche? (or
Capeesh?),
Understood? (or
Understand?), and
Got it?
What is the difference between astute and savvy?
Savvy and
astute are close synonyms, and both can be applied to people and to comments, observations, decisions, etc. Calling a comment or observation
astute often implies that it’s
insightful. Calling a comment or observation
savvy often implies that it’s
wise and based on a depth of knowledge and experience.
Is it savy or savvy?
It’s spelled savvy, with two v’s. You can remember this by remembering that it doesn’t rhyme with navy or wavy or gravy, which all have one v.
What is the opposite (antonym) of savvy?
Savvy suggests knowledge, experience, and common sense. Words that capture the opposite of this include
naive, ignorant, and
obtuse. A more informal term is
clueless. Calling someone
savvy is a compliment. Using any of these terms to describe someone would be insulting.
How do you use savvy in a sentence?
Savvy is often applied to people or their comments, decisions, etc. It’s most commonly used as an adjective, and sometimes it’s paired with another word. It can also be used as a noun. Here are some examples of
savvy in a sentence:
- Our users are savvy—they know how it should work and they’ll certainly let us know when it doesn’t.
- It was a savvy decision that demonstrated her depth of experience.
- He had no business savvy at all—he lost money on every deal he ever made.
- I knew he’d be great at game design since he’s always been so tech-savvy.
