huckster

[ huhk-ster ]

noun

1. a retailer of small articles, especially a peddler of fruits and vegetables; hawker.
2. a person who employs showy methods to effect a sale, win votes, etc.:

   the crass methods of political hucksters.

3. a cheaply mercenary person.
4. Informal.
   1. a persuasive and aggressive salesperson.
   2. a person who works in the advertising industry, especially one who prepares aggressive advertising for radio and television.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to deal, as in small articles, or to make petty bargains:

   to huckster fresh corn; to huckster for a living.

2. to sell or promote in an aggressive and flashy manner.

huckster

/ ˈhʌkstə /

noun

1. a person who uses aggressive or questionable methods of selling
2. rare.
   a person who sells small articles or fruit in the street
3. a person who writes for radio or television advertisements

verb

1. tr to peddle
2. tr to sell or advertise aggressively or questionably
3. to haggle (over)

Derived Forms

• ˈhucksterism, noun

Other Words From

• huckster·ism noun
• huckster·ish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of huckster¹

1150–1200; Middle English huccstere (perhaps cognate with Middle Dutch hokester ), equivalent to hucc- haggle (cognate with dialectal German hucken to huckster) + -stere -ster

Word History and Origins

Origin of huckster¹

C12: perhaps from Middle Dutch hoekster, from hoeken to carry on the back

Example Sentences

The gains are a sign that investors are anticipating big changes for the sector, which faced a crackdown under the Biden administration from regulators warning it was rife with hucksters and fraudsters.

From BBC

The cryptocurrency industry is “rife with fraud and hucksters and grifters”, one of the United States’ top financial regulators has told the BBC.

From BBC

He seems unaware that the public is starting to realize AI technology falls far short of the promises made by Silicon Valley hucksters.

From Salon

The media landscape, our current political divisiveness and the fact that cheesy, cheap hucksters like Donald Trump can worm their way into politics is all because of Ronald Reagan.

From Salon

I couldn’t defend myself, even against a portly old huckster like Samir.

From Literature