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Definition of shyster

shyster

/ˈʃaɪ.stɚ/
shy · ster
Plural:shysters
•
Adjective:shysterish
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shyster Lexical Profile

shyster Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person, especially a lawyer or politician, who practices in an unscrupulous, fraudulent, ordishonest manner.

Example

"The elderly couple lost their life savings after hiring a crooked shyster to manage their estate."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for shyster

Word Nuance & Usage

Despite a widespread urban legend claiming the term is derived from a surname or carries an antisemitic origin, etymological research confirms it stems from 19th-century New York slang rooted in the German word 'Scheisser' (meaning a worthless or contemptible person).

• Rhymes for shyster

• Nearby Words

shylock
shyly
shyness
shyster
si
sialosyrinx
siam

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in mid-19th-century New York City criminal and journalistic slang, likely adapted from the German term 'Scheisser' (literally 'defecator', used figuratively for a contemptible or unscrupulous person).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Shyster. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/shyster
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