carpetbagger
noun
car·pet·bag·ger
ˈkär-pət-ˌba-gər 
plural carpetbaggers
1
disapproving
: a Northerner in the South after the American Civil War usually seeking private gain under the Reconstruction governments
2
disapproving
: outsider
especially
: a nonresident or new resident who seeks private gain from an area often by meddling in its business or politics
Examples of carpetbagger in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Casey has billed his opponent as an out-of-touch carpetbagger, hammering McCormick over his previous Connecticut residency.
—
Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2024
The two Democrats don’t like each other, and Newton dismisses Gaston as an inexperienced newcomer and carpetbagger who did not move to Bridgeport until 2014.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 22 July 2024
In explaining why so many candidates are trying to make the carpetbagger label stick this year, some analysts point to the success that now-Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) enjoyed in 2022 in his race against celebrity physician Mehmet Oz.
—Mariana Alfaro, Washington Post, 1 July 2024
Despite having represented Michigan for 14 years in the House, even Republican Mike Rogers is being accused of being a carpetbagger in his Senate race in the state.
—Mariana Alfaro, Washington Post, 1 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for carpetbagger 
Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2024
The two Democrats don’t like each other, and Newton dismisses Gaston as an inexperienced newcomer and carpetbagger who did not move to Bridgeport until 2014.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 22 July 2024
In explaining why so many candidates are trying to make the carpetbagger label stick this year, some analysts point to the success that now-Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) enjoyed in 2022 in his race against celebrity physician Mehmet Oz.
—Mariana Alfaro, Washington Post, 1 July 2024
Despite having represented Michigan for 14 years in the House, even Republican Mike Rogers is being accused of being a carpetbagger in his Senate race in the state.
—Mariana Alfaro, Washington Post, 1 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for carpetbagger
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Cite this Entry
“Carpetbagger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carpetbagger. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
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carpetbagger
noun
car·pet·bag·ger
ˈkär-pət-ˌbag-ər
: a Northerner in the South after the American Civil War usually seeking private gain under the reconstruction governments
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