opportunism
noun
op·por·tun·ism
ˌä-pər-ˈtü-ˌni-zəm 
-ˈtyü-
: the art, policy, or practice of taking advantage of opportunities or circumstances often with little regard for principles or consequences
Examples of opportunism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For a decade, the central drama of Trumpism has concerned the Republican élites who continued to support him—the story has been about their malignity, or opportunism, or willful moral blindness.
—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2023
Oregon stabbed many in the back with its move and took opportunism to a slimy no-trust extreme.
—Ndaschel, oregonlive, 8 Aug. 2023
On van Gogh’s birthday, a brazen theft raises alarms about crimes of opportunism during the coronavirus crisis
Authorities say Peter Roy K, who was in prison for a separate case involving the large-scale import and export of cocaine, commissioned the theft in a bid to negotiate a lower sentence.
—María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2023
In its economic relations, Moscow has capitalized on the opportunism of countries indifferent to the conflict: the Kremlin aims to integrate Russia into non-Western networks of trade, defense, and commerce.
—Michael Kimmage and Hanna Notte, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2023
Most of the time some alchemical combination of sociability, political savvy and opportunism is more important.
—Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 5 Sep. 2023
That many get elected after not making it elsewhere suggests voters may not be too concerned about insider criticism of district shopping and political opportunism.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2023
There is an element of opportunism in Al Hilal’s approach.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 24 July 2023
But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine should finally shatter the fiction that keeping substantial NATO forces west of Germany will lead to anything other than military opportunism from Russia.
—A. Wess Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 5 July 2023
See More
Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2023
Oregon stabbed many in the back with its move and took opportunism to a slimy no-trust extreme.
—Ndaschel, oregonlive, 8 Aug. 2023
On van Gogh’s birthday, a brazen theft raises alarms about crimes of opportunism during the coronavirus crisis
Authorities say Peter Roy K, who was in prison for a separate case involving the large-scale import and export of cocaine, commissioned the theft in a bid to negotiate a lower sentence.
—María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2023
In its economic relations, Moscow has capitalized on the opportunism of countries indifferent to the conflict: the Kremlin aims to integrate Russia into non-Western networks of trade, defense, and commerce.
—Michael Kimmage and Hanna Notte, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2023
Most of the time some alchemical combination of sociability, political savvy and opportunism is more important.
—Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 5 Sep. 2023
That many get elected after not making it elsewhere suggests voters may not be too concerned about insider criticism of district shopping and political opportunism.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2023
There is an element of opportunism in Al Hilal’s approach.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 24 July 2023
But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine should finally shatter the fiction that keeping substantial NATO forces west of Germany will lead to anything other than military opportunism from Russia.
—A. Wess Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 5 July 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'opportunism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1870, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near opportunism
Cite this Entry
“Opportunism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opportunism. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
opportunism
noun
op·por·tun·ism
ˌäp-ər-ˈt(y)ü-ˌniz-əm
: the practice of taking advantage of opportunities or circumstances regardless of what one should do or what might happen
More from Merriam-Webster on opportunism
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share