opportunism
noun
op·por·tun·ism
| \ ˌä-pər-ˈtü-ˌni-zəm
, -ˈtyü-\
, -ˈtyü-\
Definition of opportunism
: the art, policy, or practice of taking advantage of opportunities or circumstances often with little regard for principles or consequences
Examples of opportunism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Just as deftly, Gilpin evokes how Debbie’s empathy melds with her shrewd opportunism. — Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, "In Season 3, “GLOW” Raises the Stakes," 30 Aug. 2019 Still, some Arab states will heed the Trump administration’s call — either out of political opportunism or necessity, experts say. — Washington Post, "Trump’s summit to build peace between Israelis and Palestinians is making things awkward for Arab allies," 21 June 2019 There is an unmistakable sense of opportunism in the air, and a touch of imagination. — Rob Mahoney, SI.com, "A New Era for the Warriors Means a New Era for the NBA," 18 July 2019 This feels less like eagerness than opportunism—maybe a subtle distinction, but a meaningful one under the circumstances. — Rob Mahoney, SI.com, "Every Game in the West Will Mean More in the Post-Warriors Era," 3 July 2019 The opportunism with respect to targets seems telling. — Caleb Crain, The New Yorker, "The Theory That Justified Anti-Gay Crime," 20 June 2019 That type of regret can telegraph superior intellect even while admitting to something destructive, and can have unmistakable whiffs of opportunism. — Kaitlyn Tiffany, Vox, "Welcome to the age of the regreditorial.," 26 July 2019 But the common thread, past and present, East and West, to epidemics of name-changing, statue-smashing, and mural-erasing is political opportunism fueled by fear and careerist anxiety. — Victor Davis Hanson, National Review, "The Cowardly Incoherence of Name-Changing, Statue-Toppling, and other Iconoclasms," 25 June 2019 The French hitmaker has made breezy opportunism his brand, flitting wherever the charts dictate. — Billboard Staff, Billboard, "The 32 Best Dance Songs of 2019 (So Far): Staff Picks," 27 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'opportunism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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