gunslinger

[ guhn-sling-er ]

noun

1. Informal. gunfighter.
2. Slang. a person who acts in an aggressive and decisive manner, especially in business or politics, as an investor who takes large risks in seeking large, quick gains.

gunslinger

/ ˈɡʌnˌslɪŋə /

noun

1. slang.
   a gunfighter or gunman, esp in the Old West

Derived Forms

• ˈgunˌslinging, noun

Other Words From

• gunslinging adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gunslinger¹

First recorded in 1950–55; gun ¹ + sling ¹ + -er ¹

Example Sentences

The West is stacked with dangerous gunslingers on every team, the North boasts the defending conference champ, the South could be due for some better luck, and the East features our preseason favorite to take home the Lombardi Trophy.

From FiveThirtyEight

Burrow’s arm was never in the same league as gunslingers like Mahomes, the Bills’ Josh Allen and the Chargers’ Justin Herbert, and that hasn’t changed.

From FiveThirtyEight

Meanwhile, Herbert is less aggressive than Lamar, despite his burgeoning reputation as a gunslinger.

From FiveThirtyEight

His reputation is one of a gunslinger heaving throws with almost as much a chance of being intercepted as going for scores.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• bandit
• crook
• desperado
• fugitive
• gangster
• hoodlum
• hooligan
• marauder
• mobster
• outcast
• pariah
• robber