opportunist
noun
op·por·tun·ist
ˌä-pər-ˈtü-nist 
-ˈtyü-
: one that is opportunistic or that practices opportunism
… a slick, shady, amoral opportunist who has only one desire: to get through life without a day of labor …—
Allan Ulrich
Allan UlrichMost burglars are opportunists.
opportunist
adjective
Examples of opportunist in a Sentence
a political opportunist who changed his health-care plan to win the election
ever the opportunist, she immediately set about becoming the incoming administrator's new best friend
Recent Examples on the Web
Indeed, once the former’s economic situation forces them to withdraw from hosting duties just four years before kickoff, the opportunist pulls out every unscrupulous trick in the book to thwart the rival bids from, ironically, Canada and USA.
—Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 10 June 2026
Petrescu told me she was predisposed to accept Tate’s explanation that Stern was an opportunist looking for money.
—Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 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
See All Example Sentences for opportunist
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Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 10 June 2026
Petrescu told me she was predisposed to accept Tate’s explanation that Stern was an opportunist looking for money.
—Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 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
See All Example Sentences for opportunist
Cite this Entry
“Opportunist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opportunist. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
opportunist
noun
op·por·tun·ist
-ˈt(y)ü-nəst
: one that is opportunistic or that practices opportunism
opportunist
adjective
Medical Definition
opportunist
noun
op·por·tun·ist
ˌäp-ər-ˈt(y)ü-nəst
: an opportunistic microorganism
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