hustler

[ huhs-ler ]

noun

1. an enterprising person determined to succeed; go-getter.
2. Slang. a person who employs fraudulent or unscrupulous methods to obtain money; swindler.
3. Informal. an expert gambler or game player who seeks out challengers, especially unsuspecting amateur ones, in order to win money from them:

   He earned his living as a pool hustler.

4. Slang. a prostitute.
5. a person who hustles.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hustler¹

First recorded in 1815–25; hustle + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Their tumult exploded into a nasty public feud earlier this year, but she compliments his drive as a hustler while she works up the hill, slightly short of breath.

From Outside Online

The two appeared nude together in the Jan. 2014 issue of Hustler, but she says they broke up in May.

From The Daily Beast

Strong in the thought that he had 365 days running for him, the second hustler was pleased to accept.

From The Daily Beast

Hume said Obama was non-divisive “and not a race hustler in any way” and America was proud to see him elected.

From The Daily Beast

At first, when his name was revealed by Hustler in connection to the case, Vitter acknowledged it.

From The Daily Beast

It's The New Yorker meets Hustler meets Interview combined to fulfill one ultimate goal: satisfying one's "sexual narcissism."

From The Daily Beast

The governor was a candidate for re-election, and being a hustler, made many hot speeches from the hustings.

From Project Gutenberg

The Hen being always an out-and-out hustler, and hard as an Indian pony, her not being well shook us up bad.

From Project Gutenberg

"Never mind, Widner; you may be a good political hustler, but you're dead bad on your classics," said Lane laughingly.

From Project Gutenberg

Therefore there is an opportunity for a hustler to borrow money at 5% or 6%, and with that money and his energy earn 10% or 15%.

From Project Gutenberg

The lazy man is always willing to give the hustler a big percentage for collecting the living that the world owes him.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• call girl
• swindler
• whore