as in opportunists
one who does things only for his own benefit and with little regard for right and wrong
that bottom-feeder would run over his own mother if it would help him get ahead in his career
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Recent Examples of bottom-feeders
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
For nearly the first two decades of their existence, the New Orleans Saints were NFL bottom-feeders.
—Jim Reineking, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025
Chicago is currently mired in a miserable seven-game losing streak, a confounding skid that includes defeats against NBA bottom-feeders like the New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, and Brooklyn Nets.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
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
For nearly the first two decades of their existence, the New Orleans Saints were NFL bottom-feeders.
—Jim Reineking, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025
Chicago is currently mired in a miserable seven-game losing streak, a confounding skid that includes defeats against NBA bottom-feeders like the New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, and Brooklyn Nets.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottom-feeders
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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The itinerary includes diving and snorkeling in some of the country’s most biodiverse reefs, with frequent sightings of manta rays, reef sharks and dolphins, as well as swimming alongside whale sharks in Saleh Bay.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
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More than 100 million sharks are killed a year due to overfishing, water pollution, climate change and loss of habitat, according to the video.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bottom-feeders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottom-feeders. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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