Learn English – Is the verb “hustle” used mostly positively or negatively these days

ambiguitymeaningquotes

I am confused about the uses of the word hustle. According to the dictionary, to hustle means a lot of negative things, like:

force (someone) to move hurriedly or unceremoniously in a specified direction.

obtain by forceful action or persuasion.

coerce or pressure someone into doing or choosing something

sell aggressively

obtain by illicit action; swindle; cheat.

However, it is used in positive inspirational quotes, such as:

“Good things happen to those who hustle.” – Anaïs Nin

"What you lack in talent can be made up with desire, hustle and giving 110 percent all the time." – Don Zimmer

“Good things come to those who wait, but only the things left over by those who hustle.” – Abraham Lincoln

Why are the dictionary definitions so negative? There is not a single positive mention of the word in there, isn't that deflecting the reality?

Best Answer

"hustle" can certainly connote "trying very hard", "giving your best", and "not being discouraged by failure", depending on the context, but its definitions in such regard are:

to obtain by energetic activity

to make strenuous efforts to obtain

So hustling in this sense is just a focused action toward achieving something beneficial and doesn't in itself denote the positive qualities that you mention.

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