opportunistic

adjective

Definition of opportunisticnext
as in aggressive
attentive to and ready to act on opportunities for personal gain or advancement The opportunistic salesperson was always on the lookout for potential new customers.

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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 opportunistic The ranks of the protesters have also swelled to include some more opportunistic looters and agitators. — Caitlin Dewey, Vox, 19 Oct. 2026 Nevertheless, authorities believe the original theft was opportunistic rather than commissioned. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 Magpies are opportunistic scavengers, incredibly cunning and deceitful and capable of calculated deception. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026 The most common reason that children end up hospitalized from the flu is pneumonia and other respiratory problems, whether from the virus itself or from opportunistic bacteria, Rao said. — Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for opportunistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opportunistic
  1. aggressive
  2. diligent
  3. aspiring
  4. industrious
  5. enterprising
  6. dynamic
Adjective
  • But Adebayo was aggressive and found a rhythm early on, totaling 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field and 8-of-9 shooting from the foul line, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals on Wednesday.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
  • That is leading to unprecedented support for more aggressive federal action on health care.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • Both players are diligent with preparation and exude a toughness that coaches love.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Receiving that crown of life comes through diligent prayer, and we are helped along the way at various checkpoints.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of diligent
Adjective
  • Police officers arrested a Libertarian candidate for the North Carolina Senate on Monday after an hourslong armed standoff with the aspiring politician.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The notions of a coaching tree and writing being open to everyone are in answer to Terrell’s own experience growing up in Kansas City as an aspiring writer.
    — Anne Kniggendorf, Kansas City Star, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of aspiring
Adjective
  • Loosehead Boris Wenger and backrow Joaquin Moro were industrious and both scored tries while fullback Geronimo Piscatelli was a constant attacking threat, scoring one try and missing two others.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Alongside his final-third prowess, Fernandes was industrious across the pitch, playing eight passes into the final third per game, more than any other United player.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of industrious
Adjective
  • There’s a lot of material for an enterprising TikToker who wants to make these edits or clips.
    — Danielle Hewitt, Vox, 26 Oct. 2026
  • As the story goes, Konheim wore one and sent the other 59 to the designer’s Madison Avenue store, where an enterprising security guard took one to his other job at the Metropolitan Opera gift shop.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of enterprising
Adjective
  • Between that difficult dynamic, the questionable backcourt of Davion Mitchell and Klay Thompson and a host of other problems that have already been revealed, missing the Play-In together is legitimately in play.
    — Dan Woike, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • And Washington must lean into a role as military integrator, smoothing out communication and coordination at sea for navies not used to dynamic multimember missions.
    — Dana Stroul, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of dynamic

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Cite this Entry

“Opportunistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opportunistic. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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