Synonyms of opportunist

opportunist

noun

ˌä-pər-ˈtü-nist 

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

• chameleon
• chancer
• weathercock
• egotist
• egoist
• timeserver
• acrobat
• trimmer
• schemer
• conniver
• self-seeker
• plotter
• temporizer
• machinator

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

• bottom-feeder
• chancer
• shark
• self-seeker
• egotist
• egoist
• schemer
• temporizer
• conniver
• machinator
• egocentric
• plotter
• hanger-on
• leech
• barracuda

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• altruist

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of opportunist

But instead of celebrating that success, Andi is worried she’ll be seen as an opportunist rather than a legitimate co-author. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026

Some amalgam of fan input, ticket sales, ratings, and media outrage determines what’s right and wrong, and this collective taste shifts more slowly than the behavior of front-office opportunists. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026

Musk, as the documentary makes clear, is a genuine if flawed technocratic visionary, a messianic opportunist, and something of a crackpot. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026

In Chicago, perpetrators are a mix of opportunists and more sophisticated networks often tied to street gangs. — Kiel Porter, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026