carpetbagger
noun
car·pet·bag·ger
ˈkär-pət-ˌba-gər 
plural carpetbaggers
1
disapproving
: a Northerner in the South after the American Civil War usually seeking private gain under the Reconstruction governments
2
disapproving
: outsider
especially
: a nonresident or new resident who seeks private gain from an area often by meddling in its business or politics
Examples of carpetbagger in a Sentence
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Other recipients of the carpetbagger label have met defeat, though, like former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown in 2014 (New Hampshire) or Mehmet Oz in 2022 (New Jersey homeowner lost in Pennsylvania).
—
Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 5 Feb. 2025
Ferber was attacked not only for being a carpetbagger, but also for having a progressive agenda.
—Chris Vognar, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2024
But Boebert faced a crowded GOP primary to replace Buck, and some criticized her as a carpetbagger.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2024
Their carpetbagger steak, topped with fried oysters, is a standout dish.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 19 July 2024
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Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 5 Feb. 2025
Ferber was attacked not only for being a carpetbagger, but also for having a progressive agenda.
—Chris Vognar, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2024
But Boebert faced a crowded GOP primary to replace Buck, and some criticized her as a carpetbagger.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2024
Their carpetbagger steak, topped with fried oysters, is a standout dish.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 19 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for carpetbagger
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Cite this Entry
“Carpetbagger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carpetbagger. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
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carpetbagger
noun
car·pet·bag·ger
ˈkär-pət-ˌbag-ər
: a Northerner in the South after the American Civil War usually seeking private gain under the reconstruction governments
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