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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Recent Examples of opportunistic
The Bears’ opportunistic defense struck on the first play when Edwards caught a deflected pass and returned it 34 yards for Chicago’s first defensive score on the opening play in at least 45 years, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
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Josh Dubow, Twin Cities, 29 Dec. 2025
The Bears' opportunistic defense struck on the first play when Edwards caught a deflected pass and returned it 34 yards for Chicago's first defensive score on the opening play in at least 45 years, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
—CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
David Dastmalchian stars as Jack Delroy, an opportunistic host who invites a possessed girl and a child psychologist as his guests for the night in a desperate bid for ratings.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Dec. 2025
On this occasion, there were no jostling journalists, no opportunistic influencers and no sign of the Hollywood scriptwriter looking to buy the rights to a story that has resonated around the world.
—Esme Nicholson, NPR, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opportunistic
Josh Dubow, Twin Cities, 29 Dec. 2025
The Bears' opportunistic defense struck on the first play when Edwards caught a deflected pass and returned it 34 yards for Chicago's first defensive score on the opening play in at least 45 years, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
—CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
David Dastmalchian stars as Jack Delroy, an opportunistic host who invites a possessed girl and a child psychologist as his guests for the night in a desperate bid for ratings.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Dec. 2025
On this occasion, there were no jostling journalists, no opportunistic influencers and no sign of the Hollywood scriptwriter looking to buy the rights to a story that has resonated around the world.
—Esme Nicholson, NPR, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opportunistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opportunistic
Adjective
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That’s the kind of chance that last season, a more aggressive-looking Stolarz would have used his frame — and frankly, his big-game presence — to turn away with ease.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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The agency has also faced criticism for aggressive tactics used by ICE agents in executing the president’s immigration policy.—
Andy Rose 19 hr ago,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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But such diligent injury prevention doesn’t address the root cause of Rec League Dysmorphia.—
Grace Perry,
Outside,
1 Jan. 2026
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Iran thus has every right to demand that the IAEA be diligent in observing its own procedures and codes of conduct on impartiality, objectivity, confidentiality, and sensitivity to national security concerns in exchange for continued cooperation.—
Mohammad Javad Zarif,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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In 1962, the former couple first met in Los Angeles when Cher was 16 and Bono was a 27-year-old aspiring music producer.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
6 Jan. 2026
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On Sunday night, the actor took home the Critics Choice award for Best Young Actor for his portrayal of an aspiring blues musician in Ryan Coogler’s multifaceted horror film.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Ganjehei immediately put the industrious studio runners on the job of turning the soundstage into Bieber’s private court.—
Katie Atkinson,
Billboard,
5 Jan. 2026
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Indiscriminate mass deportation of our law abiding, industrious, dutiful neighbors only recently arrived?—
Connor Greene,
Time,
18 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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These were private bankers who wanted to bring their talents and their client relationships somewhere more enterprising.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
15 Dec. 2025
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One question now is if there are headwinds ahead for the enterprising local Baltic national film industries.—
Annika Pham,
Variety,
22 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Not because the moms themselves are toxic people, but because the dynamic shifts into an ugly place with mean-girl behavior.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
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The 53-year-old Mladenov has long been involved in Middle Eastern politics with solid expertise in the region’s dynamic developments.—
Veselin Toshkov,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Opportunistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opportunistic. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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