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 Patriots had a great defense last year, and the Bears' defense was opportunistic. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026 As reports broke overnight of the vulnerabilities ahead of the patch’s official release, some opportunistic attackers tried to exploit it. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026 Even though colleges create and contractually agree to follow the rules of NCAA membership, the institutions are also opportunistic and competitive. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 21 Oct. 2026 The ranks of the protesters have also swelled to include some more opportunistic looters and agitators. — Caitlin Dewey, Vox, 19 Oct. 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
  • Environmentalists flex considerable muscle in the state and found an ally in Newsom, though the outgoing governor’s aggressive climate agenda ran into affordability and federal challenges in recent years.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • And definitely the lyrics are a lot more aggressive from Roger.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • Pork buns were laying on the preparation table unattended, without diligent preparation, while employees were cooking and preparing other meals.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The Devil’s Chair Trail was previously closed because of storm damage, but reopened thanks to the diligent work of county staff.
    — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of diligent
Adjective
  • The aspiring star, as seen in the new movie, experienced homelessness, sleeping in the city’s Port Authority Bus Terminal.
    — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Sam, an aspiring writer, supplements her Substack essays with standardized test tutoring that still may not be enough to cover London rent.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of aspiring
Adjective
  • The Kilplased, the foolish yet industrious folk, are making a film about themselves!
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2026
  • 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
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
  • Last year, the Horned Frogs rode the dynamic duo of Olivia Miles and Marta Suarez to the Elite Eight and a regular season Big 12 championship and trip to the Elite Eight.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026
  • However, as with Amal’s deep brunette hair with ribbons of face-framing light brown highlights, there’s something dynamic and exciting about her unexpected combination.
    — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of dynamic

Browse Nearby Words

opportunist
opportunistic
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Cite this Entry

“Opportunistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opportunistic. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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