as in driving
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1
as in laboring
to devote serious and sustained effort
everyone really hustled to get the project finished on schedule
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hurrying
to proceed or move quickly
we'd better hustle, or we'll miss the train
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in squeezing
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
a swindler who hustled cashiers by getting them all confused while they were making change
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hustling
Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026
Beyond scrambling to get to Minnesota for his debut earlier this week, Anderson said his family had an interesting experience hustling to the Twin Cities.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
Sunday night and Monday morning, O'Hare was hustling and bustling, filled with a nervous energy.
—Lauren Victory, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
The Timberwolves played terrific first-shot defense against the Thunder for most of the night, scrambling, hustling and contesting.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
One ever-hustling entrepreneur even developed an iPhone dating app that matches singles in public bomb shelters.
—Michael M. Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
But Oren had also begun hustling for the enormous spec house on Indian Creek Island that Lorber had toured.
—James D. Walsh, Curbed, 10 Mar. 2026
Wages are low, and often aren’t paid out year-round, which means many dancers spend some of the year claiming unemployment or hustling for side gigs like teaching, guest performing, or private coaching to supplement their wages and fill the gaps.
—Chloe Angyal, Time, 9 Mar. 2026
For years, Rachel and Irvi had been hustling to make this routine work, hoping that American immigration policy would evolve and allow Irvi, who had spent half his life in the United States, to become a citizen.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
Braves players worked on hustling first to third on a soft single to the outfield, or breaking toward home on a dribbler in the infield.
—Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, McCutchen walked for the fourth straight game and beat out an infield single, hustling hard to first on a squibber down the third base line.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 15 Mar. 2026
Senior guard Chendall Weaver was his usual pest for the opponents, hustling for loose balls, scoring five points, grabbing five rebounds, adding two steals and blocking a shot.
—Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 28 Feb. 2026
Those were full-time pharmacists, realtors and teachers hustling across Olympic ice for Team USA.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2026
How does Mick Cronin survive this, sending his own player off the court after hustling hard on defense to get a piece of the ball but unfortunately too much contact and drew a foul.
—Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
If out of work, hustling this week and next could open doors.
—Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
Students were hustling around campus, coming and going on the penultimate Saturday of the semester.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 15 Dec. 2025
Adjective
Suárez also made a nice sliding grab on a Luke Keaschall ground ball in the seventh when the Twins (11-9) had a pair of runners on, popping quickly to his feet and throwing out a hustling Keaschall out to end the threat.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026
Beyond scrambling to get to Minnesota for his debut earlier this week, Anderson said his family had an interesting experience hustling to the Twin Cities.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
Sunday night and Monday morning, O'Hare was hustling and bustling, filled with a nervous energy.
—Lauren Victory, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
The Timberwolves played terrific first-shot defense against the Thunder for most of the night, scrambling, hustling and contesting.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
One ever-hustling entrepreneur even developed an iPhone dating app that matches singles in public bomb shelters.
—Michael M. Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
But Oren had also begun hustling for the enormous spec house on Indian Creek Island that Lorber had toured.
—James D. Walsh, Curbed, 10 Mar. 2026
Wages are low, and often aren’t paid out year-round, which means many dancers spend some of the year claiming unemployment or hustling for side gigs like teaching, guest performing, or private coaching to supplement their wages and fill the gaps.
—Chloe Angyal, Time, 9 Mar. 2026
For years, Rachel and Irvi had been hustling to make this routine work, hoping that American immigration policy would evolve and allow Irvi, who had spent half his life in the United States, to become a citizen.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
Taste of Baldwin Park creator David Merritt has been hustling in this part of town for decades, even before it was ranked among the city’s most desirable addresses.
—Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
Braves players worked on hustling first to third on a soft single to the outfield, or breaking toward home on a dribbler in the infield.
—Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, McCutchen walked for the fourth straight game and beat out an infield single, hustling hard to first on a squibber down the third base line.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 15 Mar. 2026
Senior guard Chendall Weaver was his usual pest for the opponents, hustling for loose balls, scoring five points, grabbing five rebounds, adding two steals and blocking a shot.
—Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 28 Feb. 2026
Those were full-time pharmacists, realtors and teachers hustling across Olympic ice for Team USA.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2026
How does Mick Cronin survive this, sending his own player off the court after hustling hard on defense to get a piece of the ball but unfortunately too much contact and drew a foul.
—Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
If out of work, hustling this week and next could open doors.
—Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
Students were hustling around campus, coming and going on the penultimate Saturday of the semester.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 15 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hustling
Adjective
-
The driver was also placed on a non-driving status pending the results of the investigation.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Nor will this anti-driving VMT policy meaningfully affect the global climate.—
Jennifer Hernandez,
Washington Post,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For the rest of us, the construction kickoff means delay upon delay as streets, avenues and roads are awash with heavy equipment and construction workers laboring with jackhammers, picks and shovels.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Trump poses as a pro-worker force, but his policies are atrocious for the laboring class.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
No point hurrying toward a resolution that was always receding.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Instead of hurrying to break up tents and scatter RVs, Lee and Oakland’s interim homelessness chief Sasha Hauswald want city workers to focus on minimizing trash and human waste around encampments.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
From truckers to commuters, gasoline prices are squeezing budgets across the country.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The university is scheduled to replace the turf in July, squeezing into a tight window of summer events.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
These trees need proper attention to grow to their full potential—pruning is essential, as is being diligent against pests.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Defenseman Jacob Moverare was highlighted with the Daryl Evans Youth Hockey Service Award for his diligent and enthusiastic work with the Kings’ learn-to-play program.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As the city morphs into a luxury tourist destination, struggling small businesses are pushing to retain the character that drew many tourists in the first place.—
Laura Millan,
Bloomberg,
27 Apr. 2026
-
If your friend is lonely or struggling to establish her identity without her sister living in the house, time with friends and time intentionally getting to know herself will be more productive.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Wagner already missed 48 games during the regular season while working his way back from injury, and the caution surrounding his current calf strain is understandable given the risk associated with rushing that type of issue.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Let the conversation unfold without rushing to resolve it.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When the cheating scandal happened, there was a groundswell of support from fans, a protectiveness over Long as a woman and as a cultural touchstone.—
Zeba Blay,
SELF,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Notice something small, then compliment it This one is almost cheating.—
Henna Pryor,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hustling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hustling. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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