1
as in chameleons
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in machinators
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for temporizers
Noun
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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 -
In the middle of this spectrum, a trio of mid-career stylistic chameleons and sometime collaborators — Feid, J Balvin, and Bad Bunny — carefully map out intersecting tastes.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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For nearly the first two decades of their existence, the New Orleans Saints were NFL bottom-feeders.—
Jim Reineking,
USA Today,
11 Dec. 2025
Noun
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But opportunists in a crowd don’t excuse reckless governance.—
Melissa Derosa,
New York Daily News,
11 Feb. 2026
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Some of those pushing anti-Jewish invective on the right are opportunists.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Many experts had thought sharks didn’t exist in the frigid waters of Antarctica before this sleeper shark lumbered warily and briefly into the spotlight of a video camera, researcher Alan Jamieson said this week.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
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Climate change and warming oceans could potentially be driving sharks to the Southern Hemisphere's colder waters, but there was limited data on range changes near Antarctica because of the region's remoteness, Kyne said.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Temporizers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/temporizers. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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