1
as in chameleon
a person who dexterously and expediently changes or adopts opinions
ever the opportunist, she immediately set about becoming the incoming administrator's new best friend
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in bottom-feeder
one who does things only for his own benefit and with little regard for right and wrong
an opportunist who makes friends and then drops them as soon as they aren't useful anymore
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of opportunist
The move has prompted a flurry of skepticism and controversy—including an accusation of plagiarism—in a scene wary of trend-hopping, post-Brat opportunists.
—
Lydia Wei, Pitchfork, 13 Apr. 2026
Straight men are just catching up, vanity-wise, and political opportunists have eagerly fed into their insecurities.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
The defense sought to depict the victims as opportunists out for cash, a narrative that didn’t stand up, with the feds pointing out only two of the women were involved in a litany of outstanding lawsuits.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026
Although burly striker Pio Esposito equalized with an opportunist finish 10 minutes later, the home side picked off Inter with two goals in quick succession in the second half.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for opportunist
Lydia Wei, Pitchfork, 13 Apr. 2026
Straight men are just catching up, vanity-wise, and political opportunists have eagerly fed into their insecurities.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
The defense sought to depict the victims as opportunists out for cash, a narrative that didn’t stand up, with the feds pointing out only two of the women were involved in a litany of outstanding lawsuits.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026
Although burly striker Pio Esposito equalized with an opportunist finish 10 minutes later, the home side picked off Inter with two goals in quick succession in the second half.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for opportunist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opportunist
Noun
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Comfortable, classy, and a true closet chameleon, Mary Jane flats are a hero item on any summer shoe rack.—
Claire West,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
-
Known to be somewhat of a fashion chameleon, Brewster worked in different fashion fields and regions including Paris, London, Los Angeles and New York at different stages of his life, before settling in Dubai.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
11 May 2026
Noun
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Even Miami was a bottom-feeder until Messi arrived, and even then — yes, after 2024 Supporters’ Shield and 2023 Leagues Cup successes — the club suffered a first-round playoff exit in his first full season.—
Avi Creditor,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2026
-
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
Noun
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The attack was Australia's first shark fatality since January, when a 12-year-old boy died in a hospital days after he was mauled by a bull shark in Sydney Harbor.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
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Also, beachgoers are urged to report shark sightings to the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy’s Sharktivity app.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
18 May 2026
Noun
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Thus the self-seekers and the doctrinaires were drawn together into an alliance to maintain the status quo, and all its abuses and inequalities were made sacrosanct.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
18 Dec. 2011
Noun
-
Fittingly, the song’s thumping beat is heard twice, real loud, in Rosebush Pruning, Karim Aїnouz’s high-gloss, pitch-dark satire about an American family described by one of its scions as mediocre, vapid egotists, who will never have to work thanks to a large inheritance.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The former vice-president’s characterizations of peers such as Pete Buttigieg (talented but too gay for the America to accept as her running mate), and Josh Shapiro (an egoist) are not particularly juicy, but have already caused bad blood.—
Book Marks
September 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Sep. 2025
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His characters come off as feisty egoists who enjoy sparring and comparing the size of their ambitions.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
13 May 2025
Noun
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Readers may learn about the Florida aquifer, cowhunters, deadhead logging, old-school conservationists such as Marjory Stoneman Douglas and even Charles Ponzi, the famed schemer.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Mike McDaniel is the exact schemer and play caller who can maximize this skill set, though.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Opportunist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opportunist. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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