1
as in chameleon
a person who dexterously and expediently changes or adopts opinions ever the opportunist, she immediately set about becoming the incoming administrator's new best friend

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2
as in bottom-feeder
one who does things only for his own benefit and with little regard for right and wrong an opportunist who makes friends and then drops them as soon as they aren't useful anymore

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Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of opportunist Edge was the devil on Cena’s shoulder, an opportunist who tried to undercut Cena’s perseverance. Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 18 July 2024 Rhee noted that such privileges have fed into less favorable views of Korean Americans as spoiled opportunists — fair-weather Koreans who had left the country when things were tough only to return now that the going is good. Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024 What’s new, though, is his whole narrative, a multipart boardroom saga from the perspective of a developer who was repeatedly cast as a rapacious opportunist. Justin Davidson, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2024 Whereas Vance, with his previous flip-flops on Trump, comes across as an opportunist, Kelly’s reasons for getting into politics could hardly be more compelling. Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, 23 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for opportunist 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opportunist
Noun
  • This unexpected paint application is a total chameleon.
    Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Dec. 2024
  • Impact is the chameleon of corporate speak—a word that changes color to match its surroundings while revealing nothing about its true nature.
    Renae Gregoire, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Stock way down Cody Ceci, Klim Kostin Going from a Stanley Cup finalist in Edmonton to a recent bottom-feeder with San Jose was going to do a number on Ceci’s metrics.
    Eric Stephens, The Athletic, 22 Nov. 2024
  • Rachel reconnects with Sam, her fellow bottom-feeder, and completely bungles the conversation.
    Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Angry shorebirds defending their nests have also attacked drones deployed by city officials to alert lifeguards to sharks and struggling swimmers.
    Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
  • Greenland sharks are the longest-living fish Could a contemporary of William Shakespeare still be swimming in the sea?
    Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • At times, egoists can approach absurdity and drag their countries into outright disaster.
    Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2019
  • McCarthy’s difficulties highlighted the power of hard-right extremists and social-media egoists among the fragile Republican majority in the House.
    Steve Coll, The New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2023

Thesaurus Entries Near opportunist

Cite this Entry

“Opportunist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opportunist. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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