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
The tumult did not escape the notice of opportunists elsewhere.
—Evan Drellich, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Beyond the superrich, however, are tens of thousands of other opportunists who have benefited from war, such as the entrepreneurs who make money from sanctions-busting.
—Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 17 Apr. 2025
That is until smooth-talking opportunist sneaker J.B.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 17 Apr. 2025
With the deadline for New York’s Gender-Motivated Violence Act expiring tomorrow, opportunists are scrambling to file last-minute, meritless claims.
—Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opportunist
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Evan Drellich, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Beyond the superrich, however, are tens of thousands of other opportunists who have benefited from war, such as the entrepreneurs who make money from sanctions-busting.
—Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 17 Apr. 2025
That is until smooth-talking opportunist sneaker J.B.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 17 Apr. 2025
With the deadline for New York’s Gender-Motivated Violence Act expiring tomorrow, opportunists are scrambling to file last-minute, meritless claims.
—Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opportunist
Cite this Entry
“Opportunist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opportunist. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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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