Meaning & use

opportunist

noun·Advanced

A person who takes advantage of opportunities to gain immediate benefit, often without regard for principles or consequences.

See it in a sentence

Critics called the politician an opportunist for switching positions to win votes.

The opportunist grabbed the abandoned cart full of supplies during the chaos.

A note on using this word

Opportunist usually carries a negative connotation, implying self-interest at the expense of consistency or fairness.

Words with a similar meaning

schemer

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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