gunslinging
gunslinging Lexical Profile
gunslinging Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Characterized by bold, aggressive, or reckless risk-taking, especially in business, politics, or sports.
"The firm's gunslinging executives pursued high-risk acquisitions without waiting for approval from the board."
Carrying and skilled in the use of firearms, especially in the style of an American Old West frontiersman or outlaw.
"The classic film follows a lone, gunslinging sheriff who arrives to restore order to a lawless frontier town."
• noun
The practice or skill of drawing and shooting a firearm quickly and accurately, especially as depicted in Western fiction.
"Hollywood movies often romanticize the era of frontier gunslinging and dramatic saloon standoffs."
Bold, aggressive, or high-risk behavior in competitive endeavors such as finance, law, or sports.
"After the market crash, the hedge fund replaced its culture of financial gunslinging with strict risk management."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in early 20th-century American English as a back-formation from "gunslinger," originating in Western pulp fiction and cinema to evoke the romanticized image of frontier outlaws and lawmen.