opportunistic

adjective

Definition of opportunisticnext
as in aggressive
attentive to and ready to act on opportunities for personal gain or advancement The opportunistic salesperson was always on the lookout for potential new customers.

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of opportunistic The opportunistic pathogen was first identified in 1986 from the brain of a San Diego Zoo monkey, which died from the infection. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2026 Eggers tells all of them that opportunistic one-offs like Snap are great, but the real value comes from building something permanent, particularly as more companies stay private for longer. — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026 Zuckerberg’s embrace of checks and balances in the AI industry is just as opportunistic. — Will Oremus, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2026 Mullen’s preternatural understanding of young women who fall through society’s cracks and end up exploited by opportunistic men permeates both books. — Lisa Henricksson, Air Mail, 8 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for opportunistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opportunistic
  1. aggressive
  2. diligent
  3. aspiring
  4. industrious
  5. enterprising
  6. dynamic
Adjective
  • Cramer also pointed to Abercrombie's aggressive share repurchases as another boost to earnings per share.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough, being aggressive in what was a must-win series finale against the Washington Nationals, chose to go to his bullpen early.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • More recently, diligent and passionate biologists, chemists, and experts from other disciplines have used technology for contemporary experiments that reveal a spectrum of plant consciousness.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Dark circles happen, acne pops up, and dark spots can even appear despite diligent sunscreen use.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of diligent
Adjective
  • Ghosh is one of the faculty members with an AI version that is part of an online startup bootcamp, where aspiring founders can rehearse investor pitches, sales calls, and board meetings.
    — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Green and Perry starred alongside one another on the hit Fox series, in which Green portrayed the aspiring musician David Silver while Perry starred as the rebellious Dylan McKay, for 10 years from 1990 to 2000.
    — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of aspiring
Adjective
  • Alongside his final-third prowess, Fernandes was industrious across the pitch, playing eight passes into the final third per game, more than any other United player.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • North Korea has also become an industrious manufacturer of war drones, augmenting Moscow’s capacity to produce the unmanned aerial vehicles that have defined the conflict.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of industrious
Adjective
  • This feature helped enable what Nokia researchers called kiosks—informal pay-per-call services, in which an enterprising phone subscriber charged neighbors and family members by the minute for use of the device.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 13 July 2026
  • Their younger son’s back issues are indeed the least of the family’s problems, especially when a deal made with a more enterprising neighboring farmer winds up going bust.
    — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Definition of enterprising
Adjective
  • The arrival of Marmoush, a springy runner who is dangerous on the break and dynamic with his off-ball movement, helped reinforce a bolder new approach.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The physical robot demonstrated highly dynamic movements, including aerial cartwheels, spin kicks, and flip kicks.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of dynamic

Browse Nearby Words

opportunist
opportunistic
opportunists
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Cite this Entry

“Opportunistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opportunistic. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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