OPPORTUNISM Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

opportunism

noun

Definition of opportunism

as in aggression

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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 There’s deep, poetic honor in the grueling fight to rebuild a standard; to find the creative sparks and opportunism required to surprise the world again. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 18 May 2026 Creativity should be used to challenge the simplicity, laziness, and opportunism of certain performances of righteousness. — Literary Hub, 4 May 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 See All Example Sentences for opportunism

Recent Examples of Synonyms for opportunism

Noun

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a strategic partnership agreement in 2024 that pledged mutual aid if either country faced aggression.

— CBS News, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
End the war and aggression against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, and Iraq forever.

— Tiago Ventura, Time, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of aggression

Noun

The organization states that its standard also helps to decrease production costs and increase competitiveness and innovation.

— Cleo Levin, Footwear News, 10 Aug. 2026
Industrial capacity increasingly underpins supply chain resilience, defense readiness and national competitiveness.

— Ariyan Kabir, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of competitiveness

Noun

Gabrielle and Katerina credit the enduring appeal of Dan Tana’s to its persistent lack of pretentiousness.

— Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026
Advertisement Jones uses his antihero’s blunt self-appraisals to avoid the pretentiousness endemic to stories about artists.

— Judy Berman, Time, 2 June 2026

Definition of pretentiousness

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

When speaking in her unmistakable throaty voice, her expressive body language (hand movements often complement her sentences) reveals her assertiveness.

— Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
But the Saudis too have shown greater assertiveness in their conduct of airstrikes, which could add to regional escalatory dynamics.

— Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of assertiveness

Noun

Lucky for roughage lovers, McKinnon’s salad daring also made the transcontinental move.

— Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 6 Aug. 2026
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

Definition of daring

Noun

Essential California sat down with Ben Orbison, FOLAR’s director of strategic communications, and spoke about festival highlights and motivations.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026
Cross-functional access can then expand gradually, creating new opportunities while maintaining focus and motivation for growth.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of motivation

Noun

Gakpo would add firepower to a Tottenham forward line that is technically gifted, but lacks a killer instinct in front of goal.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Aug. 2026
Jon Moxley argued with a conflicted Will Ospreay as Ospreay struggled to find a killer instinct and pull the trigger on his ailing friend.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of killer instinct

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opportuneness

opportunism

opportunist

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“Opportunism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opportunism. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of opportunism

noun

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