Shrew/ʃruː/ Definition 1 of 2Pro Tip 1/3Natural Habitat Shrews are often used to represent agility and quickness in nature-focused texts. His movements were as quick as a shrew. Pro Tip 2/3Metaphorical Use In stories, a 'shrew' character may embody slyness or resourcefulness. She was the shrew of the class, always finding clever solutions. Pro Tip 3/3Not a Rodent Remember, shrews resemble mice but are not rodents, a fact sometimes mentioned in scientific contexts. Unlike rodents, shrews have a more varied diet.