noun
shyster
SHYS-tuh
Shyster (noun) means a dishonest or unscrupulous person, especially a lawyer or politician. Example: “The tenants accused their landlord's attorney of being a shyster.”
noun
1
A dishonest or unscrupulous person, especially a lawyer or politician.
"The tenants accused their landlord's attorney of being a shyster."
How to use shyster
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn informal, disapproving word for a crooked or sleazy operator, often a lawyer.
When to use it
Informal and derogatory; not appropriate for formal or legal writing.
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Word forms
- Plural
- shysters
- Third person singular
- shysters
- Past tense
- shystered
Fill the gap
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The tenants accused their landlord's attorney of being a _____.
Etymology
Of disputed American origin, possibly linked to an old sense of "shy" meaning disreputable, or to a German word meaning someone worthless.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for shyster
See all rhymes for shyster →Frequently asked questions
What does “shyster” mean?
The word “shyster” means a dishonest or unscrupulous person, especially a lawyer or politician. In plain terms, an informal, disapproving word for a crooked or sleazy operator, often a lawyer.
How do you pronounce “shyster”?
“Shyster” is pronounced SHYS-tuh (/ˈʃaɪs.tɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “shyster” in a sentence?
Here is “shyster” used in a sentence: “The tenants accused their landlord's attorney of being a shyster.”
What part of speech is “shyster”?
“Shyster” is a noun.
Where does the word “shyster” come from?
The word “shyster” comes from German. Of disputed American origin, possibly linked to an old sense of "shy" meaning disreputable, or to a German word meaning someone worthless.
