1
as in chameleon
a person who dexterously and expediently changes or adopts opinions
ever the opportunist, she immediately set about becoming the incoming administrator's new best friend
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in bottom-feeder
one who does things only for his own benefit and with little regard for right and wrong
an opportunist who makes friends and then drops them as soon as they aren't useful anymore
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of opportunist
The exploitation of American history by Beck and the opportunists in his orbit is nothing new.
—
Alexis Coe, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
The defense sought to depict the victims as opportunists out for cash, a narrative that didn’t stand up, with the feds pointing out only two of the women were involved in a litany of outstanding lawsuits.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026
Although burly striker Pio Esposito equalized with an opportunist finish 10 minutes later, the home side picked off Inter with two goals in quick succession in the second half.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
Farage has instituted a May 7 deadline for prospective Conservative defectors to officially switch to Reform, warning that his party will not be open to last-minute opportunists seeking to court his growing support base closer to election time.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for opportunist
Alexis Coe, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
The defense sought to depict the victims as opportunists out for cash, a narrative that didn’t stand up, with the feds pointing out only two of the women were involved in a litany of outstanding lawsuits.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026
Although burly striker Pio Esposito equalized with an opportunist finish 10 minutes later, the home side picked off Inter with two goals in quick succession in the second half.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
Farage has instituted a May 7 deadline for prospective Conservative defectors to officially switch to Reform, warning that his party will not be open to last-minute opportunists seeking to court his growing support base closer to election time.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for opportunist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opportunist
Noun
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Robert Carlyle portrays Jack Ruby, the chameleon associate of organized crime and Jefferson White is playing Lee Harvey Oswald, the patsy that was set up by The Outfit.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
1 May 2026
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Musgraves’ chameleon soul is clearly her superpower, as none of those new terrains have ever felt wholly out of place for her.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
Noun
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While the director’s last studio hit, 1999’s Deep Blue Sea, shares shark DNA, the new thriller’s roots are deeply embedded in 1970s disaster movies, not least the truly dreadful Airport ’77.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Guest shark Rashaun Williams strapped on his court shoes, wiped them on their mini mat and stomped onto their court.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Apr. 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
Noun
-
Fittingly, the song’s thumping beat is heard twice, real loud, in Rosebush Pruning, Karim Aїnouz’s high-gloss, pitch-dark satire about an American family described by one of its scions as mediocre, vapid egotists, who will never have to work thanks to a large inheritance.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The former vice-president’s characterizations of peers such as Pete Buttigieg (talented but too gay for the America to accept as her running mate), and Josh Shapiro (an egoist) are not particularly juicy, but have already caused bad blood.—
Book Marks
September 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Sep. 2025
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His characters come off as feisty egoists who enjoy sparring and comparing the size of their ambitions.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
13 May 2025
Noun
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Readers may learn about the Florida aquifer, cowhunters, deadhead logging, old-school conservationists such as Marjory Stoneman Douglas and even Charles Ponzi, the famed schemer.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Mike McDaniel is the exact schemer and play caller who can maximize this skill set, though.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Opportunist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opportunist. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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