Hustle vs. Hassle: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 10, 2023
Hustle typically means to move energetically or hurriedly, while hassle refers to irritating inconvenience or trouble, often involving conflict.
Key Differences
Hustle commonly suggests vigorous activity or bustling, energetic motion, often to achieve something in a hurried manner. Hassle, contrarily, denotes an annoying trouble or inconvenience, often involving some form of conflict or strife.
Hustle can imply a positive, go-getter attitude where one is active and perhaps aggressively pursuing a goal. Conversely, Hassle implies a negative scenario where unwanted difficulties or annoyances are present, often requiring effort to resolve.
Hustle can also imply obtaining something with energetic tactics, sometimes even employing deceptive or forceful methods. Hassle does not entail acquiring or achieving something but refers to experiencing or causing irritating difficulties.
Hustle can also be used in a positive context, especially in popular culture, symbolizing an ambitious, hard-working approach towards goals. Hassle inherently carries a negative connotation, representing unnecessary or annoying obstacles.
Hustle may sometimes be seen as admirable or necessary, especially in contexts demanding quick actions or decisions. In contrast, Hassle is generally perceived as undesirable, reflecting an aspect of difficulty nobody wants to endure.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Basic Definition
Energetic or hurried activity/motion
Annoying trouble or inconvenience
Connotation
Can be positive or negative
Typically negative
Relation to Activity
Implies active, often hurried, movement
Implies dealing with irritating difficulties
Contextual Usage
Often used in work or goal achievement contexts
Used to describe unnecessary and annoying events
Relation to Achievement
Can be associated with goal-directed activity
Rarely associated with productive activity
ADVERTISEMENT
Hustle and Hassle Definitions
Hustle
To move hurriedly or energetically.
We need to hustle to catch the train.
Hassle
To cause inconvenience or trouble.
I won’t hassle you with more chores.
Hustle
To work energetically and rapidly.
She can hustle up a meal in no time.
Hassle
An irritating inconvenience or issue.
Going through security checks is a hassle.
Hustle
To obtain by aggressive or illicit means.
He had to hustle to get the job done.
Hassle
A situation causing difficulty or trouble.
Losing my wallet was a major hassle.
Hustle
To engage in prostitution.
She had to hustle to survive on the streets.
Hassle
An argument or a fight.
Hustle
To move or act energetically and rapidly
We hustled to get dinner ready on time.
Hassle
Trouble; bother.
Hustle
To push or force one's way.
Hassle
To argue or fight
Customers hassling with merchants over high prices.
Hustle
To act aggressively, especially in business dealings.
Hassle
To bother or harass
Street gangs hassling passersby.
Hustle
To obtain something by deceitful or illicit means; practice theft or swindling.
Hassle
Trouble, bother, unwanted annoyances or problems.
I went through a lot of hassle to be the first to get a ticket.
Hustle
To solicit customers. Used of a pimp or prostitute.
Hassle
A fight or argument.
Hustle
To misrepresent one's ability in order to deceive someone, especially in gambling.
Hassle
An action which is not worth the difficulty involved.
Hustle
To push or convey in a hurried or rough manner
Hustled the prisoner into a van.
Hassle
(transitive) To trouble, to bother, to annoy.
The unlucky boy was hassled by a gang of troublemakers on his way home.
Hustle
To cause or urge to proceed quickly; hurry
Hustled the board into a quick decision.
Hassle
(transitive) To pick a fight or start an argument with.
Hustle
To sell or get by questionable or aggressive means
Hustled stolen watches.
Hustling spare change.
Hassle
To engage in a mock dogfight.
Hustle
To pressure into buying or doing something
A barfly hustling the other customers for drinks.
Hassle
(Philippines) hassling; hasslesome
Hustle
To misrepresent one's skill in (a game or activity) in order to deceive someone, especially in gambling
Hustle pool.
Hassle
An inconvenience caused by difficulties encountered trying to accomplish a task; as, finding a parking place in midtown is always a hassle.
Hustle
The act or an instance of jostling or shoving.
Hassle
Disorderly fighting; an angry dispute or disturbance.
Hustle
Energetic activity; drive.
Hassle
To dispute or quarrel, often over petty disagreements.
Hustle
(Slang) An illicit or unethical way of doing business or obtaining money; a fraud or deceit
"the most dangerous and wide-open drug hustle of them all" (Newsweek).
Hassle
To expend excessive time and energy trying to accomplish a task.
Hustle
To push someone roughly; to crowd; to jostle.
Hassle
To repeatedly annoy; as, He is known to hassle his staff when he is overworked.
Hustle
(intransitive) To rush or hurry.
I'll have to hustle to get there on time.
Hassle
An angry disturbance;
He didn't want to make a fuss
They had labor trouble
A spot of bother
Hustle
(transitive) To bundle; to stow something quickly.
Hassle
Disorderly fighting
Hustle
(transitive) To con, swindle, or deceive; especially financially.
The guy tried to hustle me into buying into a bogus real estate deal.
Hassle
Annoy continually or chronically;
He is known to harry his staff when he is overworked
This man harasses his female co-workers
Hustle
To play deliberately badly at a game or sport in an attempt to encourage players to challenge.
Hassle
To harass or pressure someone.
Stop hassling me, I’ll do it in a minute!
Hustle
(informal) To obtain by illicit or forceful action.
Hustle
(informal) To sell sex; to work as a pimp.
Hustle
(informal) To be a prostitute; to exchange use of one's body for sexual purposes for money.
Hustle
To dance the hustle, a disco dance.
Hustle
(informal) To work.
Hustle
(informal) To put a lot of effort into one's work.
Hustle
A state of busy activity.
Hustle
A propensity to work hard and get things done; ability to hustle.
Hustle
(preceded by definite article) A type of disco dance, commonly danced to the Van McCoy song The Hustle.
Hustle
(prison slang) An activity, such as prostitution or reselling stolen items, that a prisoner uses to earn money in prison.
Hustle
(slang) An act of prostitution.
Hustle
To shake together in confusion; to push, jostle, or crowd rudely; to handle roughly; as, to hustle a person out of a room.
Hustle
To push or crows; to force one's way; to move hustily and with confusion; a hurry.
Leaving the king, who had hustled along the floor with his dress worfully arrayed.
Hustle
A swindle in which you cheat at gambling or persuade a person to buy worthless property
Hustle
A rapid bustling commotion
Hustle
Cause to move furtively and hurriedly;
The secret service agents hustled the speaker out of the amphitheater
Hustle
Move or cause to move energetically or busily;
The cheerleaders bustled about excitingly before their performance
Hustle
Sell something to or obtain something from by energetic and especially underhanded activity
Hustle
To push or force one’s way.
He had to hustle through the crowd.
FAQs
Is "hustle" always used in a positive context?
No, "hustle" can be used both positively (e.g., working hard) and negatively (e.g., swindling).
How is "hustle" used in a sports context?
In sports, "hustle" implies putting in extra effort or playing aggressively.
Is "hustling" related to illicit activities?
It can be, as "hustling" might sometimes refer to schemes or cons.
Is "hustle" used in business lingo?
Yes, it's often used to describe ambitious, persistent business efforts.
Can "hustle" refer to a form of dance?
Yes, "the hustle" is a dance popularized in the 1970s.
Can "hassle" be used as a verb?
Yes, e.g., "Do not hassle me" means "Do not trouble or annoy me."
Could a "hassle" slow down someone's "hustle"?
Yes, hassles or inconveniences could impede one’s hard-working endeavors or “hustle”.
Does a "hassle" involve conflict?
Often, but a hassle can be any minor problem or inconvenience, with or without conflict.
Is "hassle-free" a common phrase?
Yes, "hassle-free" describes a process or product that is easy and trouble-free.
Does "hassle" imply a serious problem?
Not necessarily, it often denotes an annoying inconvenience rather than a serious issue.
Can a person be described as a "hassle"?
Yes, if they are causing inconvenience or annoyance.
Can "hustle" and "hassle" be used interchangeably?
No, because "hustle" often pertains to busy activity, while "hassle" relates to troublesome situations.
Is it possible to "hustle" without any "hassle"?
Yes, one can engage in vigorous activity ("hustle") without experiencing annoying inconveniences ("hassle").
Can "hustle" be a positive trait?
Yes, it is often seen positively as it implies dedication and hard work.
Can a "hustler" create a "hassle"?
Yes, if the hustler’s activities cause inconvenience or problems for others.
Can "hustle" lead to "hassle"?
Yes, if the hustle (active effort) results in creating problems or inconveniences, it could be a hassle.
What is a synonym for "hassle"?
Annoyance, bother, or inconvenience can be synonyms.
Is "hustle" colloquial?
It can be, especially in informal contexts like "hustling for money."
Can you "hustle" through a "hassle"?
Yes, one might work hard (hustle) to resolve a problem (hassle) quickly.
Are "hassle" and "hustle" related etymologically?
No, "hassle" originates from an early 20th-century American slang, while "hustle" comes from the Dutch "husselen".
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
