huckster

A huckster is a person who sells goods, typically by going from place to place or by using flamboyant or aggressive sales tactics. The term often carries a negative connotation, implying a degree of dishonesty, exaggeration, or pushiness in the sales approach. Historically, hucksters operated as itinerant peddlers, traveling with their wares and engaging directly with potential customers.

The methods associated with hucksterism can include making exaggerated claims about the quality or benefits of a product, employing high-pressure sales techniques, or creating a sense of urgency to encourage immediate purchase. While the traditional image of a huckster might involve a street vendor or a traveling salesman, the term can also be applied more broadly to individuals in various fields who use deceptive or overly persuasive tactics to promote something, whether it be a product, an idea, or themselves.

In modern usage, "huckster" is frequently used to describe a person perceived as being more interested in profit than in the integrity of their product or service. It can also refer to someone who is overly enthusiastic or insistent in promoting something, often in a way that is seen as annoying or insincere. The word itself derives from the Middle English word "hokster," meaning a retailer or seller.