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 opportunistic runners should take root and form new strawberry plants. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 12 July 2026 During tense moments, Messi was Argentina’s release valve, always cool and opportunistic. — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 12 July 2026 Simply having someone coming and going from the property also makes the home appear occupied, something security experts have long recommended to deter opportunistic criminals. — Jill Schildhouse, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 Unemployment remains above 30%, making migrants easy political targets for frustrated communities and opportunistic actors. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 10 July 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
  • The fire department said firefighters quickly went into defensive mode because the flames were so aggressive.
    — Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 30 July 2026
  • Starting the playoffs in the wild-card round reduces the World Series odds that Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has repeatedly cited as a factor in how aggressive a front office should be at the trade deadline.
    — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • Nevertheless, scholars and activists have done diligent work to calculate the damage.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026
  • Stronger, more detailed laws are essential to ensure diligent human review, prevent complacency, and protect individuals from potentially misguided AI guidance, fostering accountability in this evolving field.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of diligent
Adjective
  • Frank Urrutia, whose son Ezekiel Urrutia died in the January 2025 crash on Florida's Turnpike near the Red Road exit, says his son had a bright future ahead of him as a paramedic and aspiring firefighter.
    — Steve Maugeri, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • For a guy used to the warmth of an arena crowd, Pragiwaksono romanticizes open mics, those awkward showcases of aspiring comics performing largely in front of other aspiring comics.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 30 July 2026
Definition of aspiring
Adjective
  • Also, Norway’s Berg is going under the radar, despite similarly industrious performances in midfield.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 11 July 2026
  • Sánchez’s entry features industrious zombies hot on the tails of some cyclists, while Evans’ installment (the best here) deals with a demented doomsday cult.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026
Definition of industrious
Adjective
  • This feature helped enable what Nokia researchers called kiosks—informal pay-per-call services, in which an enterprising phone subscriber charged neighbors and family members by the minute for use of the device.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 13 July 2026
  • Their younger son’s back issues are indeed the least of the family’s problems, especially when a deal made with a more enterprising neighboring farmer winds up going bust.
    — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Definition of enterprising
Adjective
  • Simply put, the Chiefs’ offense needs to be more versatile and dynamic after finishing 15th, 15th and 21st in points scored the last three seasons.
    — Vahe Gregorian July 30, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
  • The article concludes that continuous innovation, rather than protectionist policies, is the true key to staying competitive in the dynamic semiconductor sector.
    — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 29 July 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 Aug. 2026.

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