OPPORTUNISM Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

opportunism

noun

Definition of opportunism

as in aggression

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example 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 opportunism More recently, a three-year European Investment Bank dollar auction drew over $33 billion in orders for a $4 billion offering—a staggering oversubscription that reflects genuine demand, not opportunism. — Carrie McCabe, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2026 When a disabled family objects after years of successful participation, that is not opportunism. — Kelsey Maurine Brickl, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026 At times, the ideological beliefs of some militants were mixed with financial opportunism, a motivation shared also by some politicians and military officers. — Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026 Although actual opportunities soon contracted and a Melbourne working class rapidly emerged, Victoria was noted for its economic individualism and opportunism and for its material progress and financial speculation, as well as for its imperial loyalty and political pragmatism. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for opportunism

Recent Examples of Synonyms for opportunism

Noun

Hello to a new era The relationship was characterized by passive aggression, cryptic tweets and small slights that added up to a big, if not inevitable, breakup.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Ukraine and its neighbors are increasingly skeptical that the US will come to their aid in the face of Russian aggression, and are taking precautions accordingly.

— Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 6 July 2026

Definition of aggression

Noun

With all the change in Miami Gardens, there are visions of returning to consistent competitiveness for the first time since Dan Marino was Dolphins quarterback and eventually a Super Bowl title, which hasn’t been delivered since 1973.

— David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 13 July 2026
His competitiveness stood out when the Royals first met with him.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2026

Definition of competitiveness

Noun

From his first moments onscreen in a performance of Duracell Bunny physicality and motormouth pushiness, Chalamet conveys the sense of a shameless young man willing himself toward greatness with a combination of chutzpah, amorality and unshakeable self-belief.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 1 Dec. 2025
Modi is as nationalistic as Xi, and is no doubt irritated at the confidence and pushiness of its great eastern neighbor.

— Kerry Brown, Time, 4 Sep. 2025

Definition of pushiness

Noun

Mediterranea takes that knack for quiet assertiveness to new heights.

— Rachel Ingram, Robb Report, 14 June 2026
Research on gender stereotypes has consistently found that ambition, assertiveness, and competitiveness are viewed differently depending on who displays them.

— Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

Definition of assertiveness

Noun

Their coach, Rudi Garcia, showed some tactical daring, holding out two of his more prominent players until partway through the second half, injecting some energy into the game when the starters began to flag.

— Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 7 July 2026
According to the Montreal garbageman Simon Paré-Poupart, toddler garbage fandom is a manifestation of the age-old human appreciation of strength and daring.

— Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 18 June 2026

Definition of daring

Noun

And while Paraguay deserve plenty of blame for what was a shockingly poor effort, Maucio Pochettino’s USMNT also deserves credit for instilling a killer instinct in his side that broke that Albirroja spirit.

— Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Kylian Mbappe of France and Norway’s Erling Haaland also got two goals each with the kind of mobility and killer instinct that Ronaldo has simply not shown in recent major tournaments.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 18 June 2026

Definition of killer instinct

Browse Nearby Words

opportuneness

opportunism

opportunist

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Opportunism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opportunism. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of opportunism

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on opportunism

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

yaw

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes