as in opportunist
one who does things only for his own benefit and with little regard for right and wrong
that bottom-feeder would run over his own mother if it would help him get ahead in his career
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of bottom-feeder
Even Miami was a bottom-feeder until Messi arrived, and even then — yes, after 2024 Supporters’ Shield and 2023 Leagues Cup successes — the club suffered a first-round playoff exit in his first full season.
—
Avi Creditor, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2026
These sharks are thought to be bottom-feeders, preying on fish that frequent the floors of rivers and estuaries.
—John P. Rafferty, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Mar. 2026
Games against real teams will reveal far more about the Magic’s mindset than any blowout over a bottom-feeder.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
The Warriors already might be too far ahead in the standings to catch bottom-feeders like the New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers in the race to maximize their draft-lottery odds.
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
The Mavs dwell among the Western Conference’s bottom-feeders, but no team in either conference presents the sheer volume of storylines as the outfit from Texas’ largest city.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
For nearly the first two decades of their existence, the New Orleans Saints were NFL bottom-feeders.
—Jim Reineking, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025
Chicago is currently mired in a miserable seven-game losing streak, a confounding skid that includes defeats against NBA bottom-feeders like the New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, and Brooklyn Nets.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
The Patriots brutalized their opponent in a way the only other AFC team truly competing for the No. 1 seed did not while facing another NFC East bottom-feeder Sunday night.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
Avi Creditor, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2026
These sharks are thought to be bottom-feeders, preying on fish that frequent the floors of rivers and estuaries.
—John P. Rafferty, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Mar. 2026
Games against real teams will reveal far more about the Magic’s mindset than any blowout over a bottom-feeder.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
The Warriors already might be too far ahead in the standings to catch bottom-feeders like the New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers in the race to maximize their draft-lottery odds.
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
The Mavs dwell among the Western Conference’s bottom-feeders, but no team in either conference presents the sheer volume of storylines as the outfit from Texas’ largest city.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
For nearly the first two decades of their existence, the New Orleans Saints were NFL bottom-feeders.
—Jim Reineking, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025
Chicago is currently mired in a miserable seven-game losing streak, a confounding skid that includes defeats against NBA bottom-feeders like the New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, and Brooklyn Nets.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
The Patriots brutalized their opponent in a way the only other AFC team truly competing for the No. 1 seed did not while facing another NFC East bottom-feeder Sunday night.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottom-feeder
Noun
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Ever the opportunist, Jones makes a plea to his base.—
Mia Sato,
The Verge,
24 Apr. 2026
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Some of the backlash is predicated on harmful stereotypes about trans women that portray them as predatory opportunists.—
Jenna Norosky,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The small fish, also known as remoras, are known for attaching themselves to larger marine animals — including whales and sharks — for protection, free transportation and food.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
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In a new study, researchers documented seven cases of remoras, a fish known for suctioning itself onto rays—as well as sharks, dolphins, boats and even divers—plunging into manta rays' cloacal orifice, an opening used for pooping, peeing and mating.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
11 May 2026
Noun
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Thus the self-seekers and the doctrinaires were drawn together into an alliance to maintain the status quo, and all its abuses and inequalities were made sacrosanct.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
18 Dec. 2011
Cite this Entry
“Bottom-feeder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottom-feeder. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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