Is the verb "hustle" used mostly positively or negatively these days?

Question

I am confused about the uses of the word hustle. According to the dictionary, to hustle means a lot of negative things, like:

force (someone) to move hurriedly or unceremoniously in a specified direction.

obtain by forceful action or persuasion.

coerce or pressure someone into doing or choosing something

sell aggressively

obtain by illicit action; swindle; cheat.

However, it is used in positive inspirational quotes, such as:

“Good things happen to those who hustle.” - Anaïs Nin

"What you lack in talent can be made up with desire, hustle and giving 110 percent all the time." - Don Zimmer

“Good things come to those who wait, but only the things left over by those who hustle.” – Abraham Lincoln

Why are the dictionary definitions so negative? There is not a single positive mention of the word in there, isn't that deflecting the reality?

Answer 1

"hustle" can certainly connote "trying very hard", "giving your best", and "not being discouraged by failure", depending on the context, but its definitions in such regard are:

to obtain by energetic activity

to make strenuous efforts to obtain

So hustling in this sense is just a focused action toward achieving something beneficial and doesn't in itself denote the positive qualities that you mention.

Answer 2

To hustle or hustling is used in two very different ways.

1. Action a person who is conning another person out of money (or something) is taking.

2. The meaning that someone is trying hard or doing something quickly.

Uses:

1. That guy is trying to hustle you. Don't play his little game.

2. John is really hustling today. The rest of you need to step up your game.

So when used in the first meaning it is negative (maybe even super negative). And when used the second way it is positive to be hustling.

Answer 3

The dictionary does contain positive, and only slightly pejorative, definitions:

(1) To make someone go quickly where you want them to go or to make them do what you want them to do.

(3) [US] To move in a quick, effective way.

(Oh, this is Macmillan, though. The other dictionary.)

Answer 4

Don't forget the modern context in which the word "Hustle" is used, which is the pursuit of money. For example, if I launch a business on the side, it's my "side hustle".