noun
shyster
SHY-ster/ˈʃaɪstər/
A dishonest person, especially a lawyer or businessperson.
The shyster secretly pushes down the scale to overcharge the customer.
Etymology
The probable ancestor, German Scheißer, meant a worthless person and was based on the word for excrement. That coarse contempt became a label for an unscrupulous lawyer or other dishonest operator.
In context
one cheap chiseling shyster lawyer
More examples
- She calls the broker a shyster after he lies about her investment.
- Two shysters sell fake insurance policies to unsuspecting customers.
- Don't trust that shyster with your savings.
Forms
shyster · shysters