hustle
0 antonyms and opposites of hustle, grouped by meaning.
Verb — To push, shove, or move someone quickly and often roughly.
How to use hustle
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
"Hustle" as in "grind culture" or "side hustle" is informal, modern business slang.
Etymology
From Dutch husselen, meaning "to shake up" — the sense of pushing and jostling came first, and the modern "work hard" meaning developed later in American English.
Full origin of hustle →Frequently asked questions
What does “hustle” mean?
The word “hustle” means to push, shove, or move someone quickly and often roughly. In plain terms, to work hard and energetically (especially to earn money), or to push/shove someone, or to run a scam.
How do you pronounce “hustle”?
“Hustle” is pronounced HUH-suhl (/ˈhʌsəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “hustle” in a sentence?
Here is “hustle” used in a sentence: “Security hustled the protester out of the building.”
What is another word for “hustle”?
Words with a similar meaning to “hustle” include make tracks, swindle and turn tricks.
What part of speech is “hustle”?
Depending on how it is used, “hustle” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “hustle” come from?
The word “hustle” comes from Dutch. From Dutch husselen, meaning "to shake up" — the sense of pushing and jostling came first, and the modern "work hard" meaning developed later in American English.
Is “hustle” a common word?
“Hustle” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “hustle” have?
“Hustle” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to push, shove, or move someone quickly and often roughly.
What is the difference between "hustle" and "swindle"?
"Hustle" as a verb can mean either to work hard and energetically to earn money or to con someone in a deal, while "swindle" refers only to the dishonest sense of cheating someone. So "hustle" is broader and context-dependent, covering both legitimate hard work and deceptive schemes.
Is "hustle" always negative, like a scam?
No. "Hustle" has a positive, widely used sense meaning determined effort and energetic activity toward earning money, such as having a "side hustle." Only its other sense, involving conning or swindling someone, carries a negative, dishonest connotation.
What does it mean to "hustle" someone physically?
To "hustle" someone in this sense means to push, shove, or move them quickly and often roughly, which is a distinct meaning from the money-earning or swindling senses of the word. This physical sense is common in descriptions of someone being forced along quickly, such as being hustled out of a building.
Can "hustle" be used as both a noun and a verb?
Yes, "hustle" functions as a verb (to work hard, to con, or to physically push someone) and as a noun describing either energetic effort toward earning money or a dishonest scheme. The correct sense usually depends on surrounding context.