opportunist

noun

op·​por·​tun·​ist ˌä-pər-ˈtü-nist How to pronounce opportunist (audio)
-ˈtyü-
Synonyms of opportunistnext
: 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
Most burglars are opportunists.
opportunist adjective

Synonyms of opportunist

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ever the opportunist, Jones makes a plea to his base. — Mia Sato, The Verge, 24 Apr. 2026 Hepburn was enamored with the high-minded Ferrer, though some saw him as a puppet master and opportunist. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 15 May 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 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 See All Example Sentences for opportunist

Word History

Etymology

opportun(ism) + -ist entry 1, probably after French opportuniste

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of opportunist was in 1873

Rhymes for opportunist

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Browse Nearby Words

opportunism
opportunist
opportunistic
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Cite this Entry

“Opportunist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opportunist. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

opportunist

noun
op·​por·​tun·​ist -ˈt(y)ü-nəst How to pronounce opportunist (audio)
: one that is opportunistic or that practices opportunism
opportunist adjective

Medical Definition

opportunist

noun
op·​por·​tun·​ist ˌäp-ər-ˈt(y)ü-nəst How to pronounce opportunist (audio)
: an opportunistic microorganism

More from Merriam-Webster on opportunist

Nglish: Translation of opportunist for Spanish Speakers

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