Sharpers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Individuals who employ cunning tactics to cheat or defraud others in financial matters
2. Those engaging in swindling practices, relying on trickery to deceive unsuspecting victims
3. Persons who use clever tricks to unlawfully gain money or advantage from others

Etymology: "Sharpers" is the plural of "sharper," a noun formed from the adjective "sharp" with the suffix "-er," which in this case marks an agent: one who performs the action or has the quality. A sharper, in other words, is someone who is sharp in the sense of quick and cunning, and the word narrowed over time to describe those who use that cleverness to cheat others of money. The "-er" ending is the same one found in words like "baker" or "writer," and English has long used it to turn adjectives and verbs into names for doers. The base word "sharp" itself comes from Old English "scearp," meaning cutting or pointed, so the original physical sense of a blade is still present underneath the later figurative meanings of wit and cunning.

Synonyms: crooks, swindlers, con artists, scammers, tricksters

Antonyms: honest people, law-abiding citizens, trustworthy individuals, straight shooters, sincere persons