temporizer

1
as in chameleon
a person who dexterously and expediently changes or adopts opinions the kind of temporizer who determines his position on a political issue by taking a look at the polls

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2
as in machinator
one who does things only for his own benefit and with little regard for right and wrong a lifelong temporizer, he was for the war as long as it was popular and against it the minute the tide of public opinion went the other way

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for temporizer
Noun
  • The style is the ultimate chameleon — the neutral black hue pairs effortlessly with jeans, skirts, and dresses of all colors.
    Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
  • While a whole generation of moviegoers may have only just discovered this, the veteran character actress has made her name, again and again, as a true chameleon.
    David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Here’s one out-of-the-box name who fits the high-motor description: Tony Vitello, who transformed the University of Tennessee from a bottom-feeder in the Southeastern Conference into perhaps the brashest and most talented program in the country.
    Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Here are some methods for scraping good music from the data wasteland, organized in a hierarchy from bottom-feeder basics to more sophisticated and ultimately, uhh, harebrained strategies.
    Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 31 July 2025
Noun
  • As played with bravado by Macfadyen, the unhinged Guiteau comes across as a stop-at-nothing opportunist consumed by his overinflated vision of his own significance and purpose.
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Malek, wild-eyed as ever, portrays Kelley as an overconfident opportunist who is more than willing to cross lines to gain Goering’s trust.
    Lindsey Bahr, Boston Herald, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • After several moments, the shark managed to wriggle free and return to the ocean unharmed.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Take along snorkel gear—every stop is a chance to swim with sea turtles and even the occasional reef shark.
    Carla Vianna, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Temporizer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/temporizer. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.

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