Word Study
sharper
CIDE DICTIONARY
sharper, n.
A person who bargains closely, especially, one who cheats in bargains; a swinder; also, a cheating gamester. [1913 Webster]
"Sharpers, as pikes, prey upon their own kind." [1913 Webster]
Syn. -- Swindler; cheat; deceiver; trickster; rogue. See Swindler.
THESAURUS
sharper
adventurer, betting ring, bettor, boneshaker, bunco artist, bunco steerer, cardshark, cardsharp, cardsharper, carpetbagger, cheat, compulsive gambler, con artist, con man, confidence man, crap shooter, crimp, defrauder, diddler, double-dealer, gambler, gamester, gyp, hazarder, horse coper, horse trader, jackleg, land pirate, land shark, land-grabber, mortgage shark, mountebank, pettifogger, petty gambler, piker, pitchman, player, plunger, punter, shark, sharp, sharpie, shortchanger, shyster, slicker, speculator, spieler, sport, sporting man, sportsman, tinhorn, tipster, tout, trickster, venturer, wagererROGET THESAURUS
sharper
Thief
N thief, robber, homo triumliterarum, pilferer, rifler, filcher, plagiarist, spoiler, depredator, pillager, marauder, harpy, shark, land shark, falcon, mosstrooper, bushranger, Bedouin, brigand, freebooter, bandit, thug, dacoit, pirate, corsair, viking, Paul Jones, buccaneer, buccanier, piqueerer, pickeerer, rover, ranger, privateer, filibuster, rapparee, wrecker, picaroon, smuggler, poacher, abductor, badger, bunko man, cattle thief, chor, contrabandist, crook, hawk, holdup man, hold-up, jackleg, kidnaper, rustler, cattle rustler, sandbagger, sea king, skin, sneak thief, spieler, strong-arm man, highwayman, Dick Turpin, Claude Duval, Macheath, footpad, sturdy beggar, cut purse, pick purse, pickpocket, light-fingered gentry, sharper, card sharper, skittle sharper, thimblerigger, rook, Greek, blackleg, leg, welsher, defaulter, Autolycus, Jeremy Diddler, Robert Macaire, artful dodger, trickster, swell mob, chevalier d'industrie, shoplifter, swindler, peculator, forger, coiner, fence, receiver of stolen goods, duffer, smasher, burglar, housebreaker, cracksman, magsman, Bill Sikes, Jack Sheppard, Jonathan Wild, gang, gang of thieves, theft ring, organized crime, mafia, the Sicilian Mafia, the mob, la cosa nostra, Dillinger, Al Capone, Robin Hood.For further exploring for "sharper" in Webster Dictionary Online