opportunistic
adjective
op·por·tu·nis·tic
ˌä-pər-tü-ˈni-stik 
-tyü-
: taking advantage of opportunities as they arise: such as
a
: exploiting opportunities with little regard to principle (see principle sense 1) or consequences
a politician considered opportunistic
an opportunistic investment
b
: feeding on whatever food is available
opportunistic feeders
opportunistic bears
c
: being or caused by a usually harmless microorganism that can become pathogenic when the host's resistance is impaired
opportunistic infections
opportunistic diseases
Examples of opportunistic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Despite struggling to gain any offensive tempo whatsoever in the early stages, Shrewsbury (12-8-2) proved to be opportunistic, however.
—
Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 2 Mar. 2025
The separation imposed by Wallace’s Line has shaped their behaviors, as well; while crab-eating macaques are opportunistic and often raid crops and human settlements, booted macaques remain more reclusive, relying on the secluded resources of Sulawesi’s forests.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
When Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dies, events will unfold quickly on the ground: internal power struggles in Tehran, opportunistic maneuvers in the region.
—Kori Schake, The Atlantic, 15 Feb. 2025
This is the first evidence of prehistoric crocodilians in North America as opportunistic feeders, especially on giant pterosaurs.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 23 Jan. 2025
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Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 2 Mar. 2025
The separation imposed by Wallace’s Line has shaped their behaviors, as well; while crab-eating macaques are opportunistic and often raid crops and human settlements, booted macaques remain more reclusive, relying on the secluded resources of Sulawesi’s forests.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
When Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dies, events will unfold quickly on the ground: internal power struggles in Tehran, opportunistic maneuvers in the region.
—Kori Schake, The Atlantic, 15 Feb. 2025
This is the first evidence of prehistoric crocodilians in North America as opportunistic feeders, especially on giant pterosaurs.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opportunistic
Cite this Entry
“Opportunistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opportunistic. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
opportunistic
noun
op·por·tu·nis·tic
-t(y)ü-ˈnis-tik
: taking advantage of opportunities as they arise: as
a
: exploiting opportunities with little regard to principle or consequences
an opportunistic cheater
b
: feeding on whatever food is available
opportunistic feeders
Medical Definition
opportunistic
adjective
op·por·tu·nist·ic
-t(y)ü-ˈnis-tik
1
: of, relating to, or being a microorganism that is usually harmless but can become pathogenic when the host's resistance to disease is impaired
2
: of, relating to, or being an infection or disease caused by an opportunistic organism
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and other opportunistic infections that kill AIDS patients—New York Times
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