Meaning & use

hustle

verb·Everyday

Last updated

To work energetically and often quickly, or to obtain something by aggressive or sometimes dishonest means.

See it in a sentence

She had to hustle to finish the report before the deadline.

He was accused of trying to hustle tourists out of their money with a rigged game.

A note on using this word

As a noun, 'hustle' can mean either vigorous effort ('she has a lot of hustle') or a scam ('running a hustle'), so context determines whether it's positive or negative.

Words with a similar meaning

hurryscramble

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

dawdle

Another way to use it

2. noun

A dishonest scheme or scam intended to deceive someone, especially for money.

The card game turned out to be a hustle designed to trick tourists.

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