opportunists

plural of opportunist
1
as in chameleons
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

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2
as in bottom-feeders
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

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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 opportunists Even Argentina’s fans could not tell to what extent their team’s support was real or made up of opportunists who had come to see the great man. Sam Knight, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 In a review of tap-to-pay cases across the country, CNBC found a mix of low-level opportunists and organized crime rings. Gabrielle Fonrouge,scott Zamost,anna Gleason, CNBC, 17 July 2026 They are hired hands and stewards of other people’s capital, with no desire to becoming embroiled in internecine squabbles between clashing advocates, parochial activists, and plain opportunists latching on to the moment. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 28 June 2026 Some residents allege illnesses like Ebola are elevated by opportunists trying to profit. Ope Adetayo, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2026 As pressure mounts to identify the gunman, opportunists emerge from every corner, eager to exploit the chaos and dismantle the empire Madam fought to build. Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 2 June 2026 The Boys – Season 5 (Prime Video) Things have gone from bad to worse in the final season of The Boys, Prime Video’s irreverent superhero satire about America succumbing to charismatic despots and fascistic opportunists. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026 Some of the backlash is predicated on harmful stereotypes about trans women that portray them as predatory opportunists. Jenna Norosky, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026 The move has prompted a flurry of skepticism and controversy—including an accusation of plagiarism—in a scene wary of trend-hopping, post-Brat opportunists. Lydia Wei, Pitchfork, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opportunists
Noun
  • Even better, these sleek shoes act as closet chameleons, blending seamlessly with everything from office outfits to errands ensembles without issue.
    Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
  • Think of this as the way chameleons change color to blend into their surroundings for protection.
    Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • These sharks are thought to be bottom-feeders, preying on fish that frequent the floors of rivers and estuaries.
    John P. Rafferty, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Mar. 2026
  • The Warriors already might be too far ahead in the standings to catch bottom-feeders like the New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers in the race to maximize their draft-lottery odds.
    Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The organisers can be international crime conglomerates or opportunistic chancers, its markets veering from last-minute own goals to a couple of extra throw-ins.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 4 June 2026
  • But because anybody can edit any page at any time, some editors are chancers or people with an ax to grind who will try to input wrong information.
    Imogen West-Knights, The Dial, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Ayres studies sharks but observing orcas that preyed on sharks in the Gulf of California sparked her interest in killer whale behavior.
    Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
  • Part of what makes the conflict intractable is who is not harvesting these sharks.
    Kate Waxman, Sun Sentinel, 19 July 2026
Noun
  • The adage about egoists who want to be the bride at every wedding proved literally true.
    Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 9 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Opportunists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opportunists. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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