as in opportunists
a person who dexterously and expediently changes or adopts opinions
at the summer resort he acquired a reputation as a social chameleon—someone who could be whatever his hosts wanted him to be
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Recent Examples of chameleons
Today, those invaders have been cleared, and more than 100,000 native saplings have grown into a lush forest cover that’s now home to sunbirds, bulbuls, geckos and chameleons.
—
Chris Schalkx, Vogue, 30 Sep. 2025
There will be a piñata and crafting, including Lele dolls, carnival masks and pipe cleaner chameleons.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Sep. 2025
This matters because chameleons hunt by ballistically launching their tongues like slingshots, using a tapered bone in their throat as a ramp.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2025
The parallels between salamanders and chameleons indicate that the underlying physics does not depend on rare or exotic tissues.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
Isolated from the African continent, the island has evolved on its own terms, giving rise to wildlife found nowhere else on Earth—like the aye-aye, lemurs, and rare species of chameleons.
—Erina Pinar, Travel + Leisure, 7 Aug. 2025
Chris Schalkx, Vogue, 30 Sep. 2025
There will be a piñata and crafting, including Lele dolls, carnival masks and pipe cleaner chameleons.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Sep. 2025
This matters because chameleons hunt by ballistically launching their tongues like slingshots, using a tapered bone in their throat as a ramp.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2025
The parallels between salamanders and chameleons indicate that the underlying physics does not depend on rare or exotic tissues.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
Isolated from the African continent, the island has evolved on its own terms, giving rise to wildlife found nowhere else on Earth—like the aye-aye, lemurs, and rare species of chameleons.
—Erina Pinar, Travel + Leisure, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chameleons
Noun
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The sci-fi comedy follows a Paige, Keke Palmer and Naomi Ackie as a crew of boosters (aka professional shoplifters/equal opportunists), who take aim at a cutthroat fashion maven.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
13 Dec. 2025
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The film’s most powerful scene arrives when Turdugul’s grandmother refuses to sell her property to routine opportunists and laments about a vanishing village that has been slipping through her fingers — an occasion Akynbekov and Kubat approach with an unobtrusive, documentarian aesthetic.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
23 Nov. 2025
Noun
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It is also peppered with acrobats and other circus performers who are now touring with a musical for the first time.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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Cirque du Soleil is known for its shows featuring acrobats, athletes and clowns – all doing spectacular feats.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Clean your trimmers with rubbing alcohol to help prevent pathogens from spreading to the plant.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
7 Jan. 2026
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Flat irons, curling wands, hair dryers, and beard trimmers are also often found sprawled across bathroom counters, especially during busy mornings.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chameleons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chameleons. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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