opportunist
/ˌɒp.əˈtʃuː.nɪst/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɑː.pɚˈtuː.nɪst/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌä-pər-ˈtü-nist -ˈtyü-/ (ame, mw) · /ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪst/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɑːpərˈtuːnɪst/ (ame, ipa)
opportunist — noun
- opportunistsingular
- opportunistsplural
1. A person who quickly uses any chance, even a dishonest one, to gain power, money
A person who quickly uses any chance, even a dishonest one, to gain power, money, or another personal benefit, usually without caring about other people or principles.
Quinn called the new senator a shameless opportunist who switched parties for office.
called X a shameless opportunist
After the flood, opportunists sold clean water at five times the price.
opportunists exploiting a crisis
Jabari is a clever footballer and an opportunist who waits near the goal.
Critics described the manager as a cold opportunist with no loyalty to any team.
Alessia warned her sister that the new business partner was a charming opportunist.
- self-seeker
formal and disapproving, focuses on putting one's own interest above the group
- operator
informal; a clever person who knows how to work a system, often morally grey
- chancer
British informal; someone who acts on any chance, often without skill or planning
文法句型
a political opportunist
an unashamed opportunist
opportunist with no fixed loyalties
用法筆記
Subject is almost always a person being judged by the speaker; rarely neutral. Frequently preceded by adjectives that strengthen the negative tone (shameless, cold, ruthless, political).
常見錯誤
opportunist — adjective
- opportunistpositive
- more opportunistcomparative
- most opportunistsuperlative
1. Acting in a sudden way that takes whatever benefit a moment offers, usually with
Acting in a sudden way that takes whatever benefit a moment offers, usually without a plan and often without thinking about right or wrong.
Reporters called the takeover a purely opportunist move during the company's worst week.
purely opportunist + noun
Ravindra scored an opportunist goal after the goalkeeper slipped on the wet grass.
opportunist goal in a sports context
Tamar dismissed the criticism as an opportunist attack made just before the election.
The shopkeeper denied that her price rise was opportunist and blamed it on supply costs.
Police reported a wave of opportunist thefts from cars left unlocked during the festival.
- opportunistic
much more common in everyday writing; almost interchangeable with this adjective
- expedient
formal; focuses on what is useful or convenient rather than fair or right
- self-serving
stronger negative tone, highlights putting personal benefit above others
- principled
acting from firm beliefs about what is right, not from quick personal gain
文法句型
an opportunist attack
an opportunist move
purely opportunist behaviour
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense noun/1: this sense describes an action or behaviour, not a person. Often modifies words like 'move', 'attack', 'goal', 'theft', or 'behaviour'.