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acumen

acumen

17 7.9
Skill at making good, quick decisions in a specific area
  • noun
  • /ˈækjʊmən/
translation icon : perspicacia
  • Your musical acumen is most impressive, girls.
  • business acumen
  • financial acumen
  • political acumen

This requires real structuring skill, real financial acumen.

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Examples

  • "Does she get around to mentioning your business acumen and the contributions you've made to Matherly Press?"

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Well, then please impress me with your acumen.

  • And he is, you know, known for his acumen about business.

  • On Monday, I was able to use the tax laws of this country and my business acumen to dig out of the real estate mess.

  • Did you get any sense of his business acumen?

  • OK, so he graduated with all the acumen he needed to be able to spot a really good business opportunity.

  • The political and economic developments of the post-1730 period tested the acumen of Six Nations political leaders.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Some Pacific Islanders have shown considerable acumen in dealing with global problems through local action.

    Academic text (2004)
  • The Coushattas had clearly demonstrated their political acumen and their economic leverage in Southwest Louisiana.

    Academic text (2017)
  • His keen acumen in analyzing market trends helped the company grow significantly.

Synonyms

sense
vsacumen
3.7

Good practical judgment about what to do

adds rapid, domain-specific decision skill to general sensible judgment
wisdom
vsacumen
571 2.7

To use what you know and have learned to make good choices and give good advice

is quicker and more choice-focused within a specific area
savvy
vsacumen
  • Informal
114 4.4

Having practical knowledge and good judgment in a specific area

stresses quick decision skill more than practical experience
discernment
vsacumen
38 6.6

The ability to notice and judge things clearly and wisely

adds speed and domain focus to that clear judging ability
quick thinking
vsacumen
7 3.5

To think and react quickly when things go wrong

includes making fast well judged choices specifically in one area
acuity
vsacumen
7 8.1

Ability to think quickly and clearly

combines that sharpness with skilled rapid decision making in a field
decisiveness
vsacumen
5 3.2

The ability to choose quickly and confidently

adds the element of making good correct choices, not only speed
sound judgment
vsacumen
4 3.7

The ability to make sensible, careful decisions

adds quickness and domain expertise to sensible decision making
mental acuity
vsacumen
3 6.4

Quick, clear thinking that helps you understand and decide

is more about choosing well fast within a specific area
shrewdness
vsacumen
2 6.3

Skill in judging people or situations and using it to gain advantage

emphasizes correct quick choices rather than personal gain
quickness
vsacumen
2 4.1

Ability to think and respond very fast in the mind

adds rapid mental speed to good domain decisions
perspicacity
vsacumen
  • Formal
2 9.6

The ability to notice and understand things quickly and clearly

focuses on making quick, good decisions in a specific area
sagacity
vsacumen
  • Formal
1 8.7

Being very wise and good at making decisions

puts more weight on fast correct choices in a field
astuteness
vsacumen
1 6.9

Skill in understanding people or situations quickly and using that to your advantage

is about choosing well quickly rather than benefiting personally
smartness
vsacumen
1 4.0

The ability to think quickly and act cleverly

is more narrowly about fast, effective decision making in a field
perceptiveness
vsacumen
1 6.6

Being quick to notice small details and other people's feelings

focuses more on making quick correct choices than on subtle noticing
canniness
vsacumen
1 7.5

Being careful and clever when making decisions about money

focuses on rapid, domain-specific decision making rather than caution
insightfulness
vsacumen
1 6.7

A deep understanding that sees what others do not about people or situations

adds rapid, practical choice making in a particular domain
nimbleness
vsacumen
1 4.8

Quick thinking that helps you understand and answer fast

adds the aim of making good decisions in a domain rather than just speed
adroitness
vsacumen
1 7.5

Ability to do things quickly and well

stresses choosing well fast rather than physical or practical skill
perspicaciousness
vsacumen
  • Formal
9.9

The ability to understand things quickly and make good decisions

leans more toward practical decision making in a particular field
sagaciousness
vsacumen
  • Formal
9.1

Being wise and showing good judgment

tilts more toward speedy practical choice in a particular domain
mental quickness
vsacumen
4.2

To think and answer quickly and correctly, especially when solving problems

adds the aim of correct, domain-focused decision making to speed

Antonyms

19 3.4

Not able to make a choice quickly or with confidence

How Astute

brilliance
42 4.1
insight
493 4.9
acumen
17 7.9
discernment
38 6.6
judgment
  • US
758 3.2

Surface Forms

acumen singular
acumens plural

Etymology

Acumen comes from the old Latin root acu- meaning 'to sharpen', the same root you see in acute. So, acumen is like a 'sharp' mind that makes quick, good decisions.