opportunistic
Exploiting favorable circumstances
Opportunistic describes someone or something that seizes opportunities as they arise, often without regard for principles or planning.
An opportunistic politician shifts positions to gain advantage.
An opportunistic infection strikes when the immune system is weakened.
The word usually carries a negative shade—suggesting calculated self-interest rather than genuine conviction: His support for the cause seemed purely opportunistic.
Exploiting the vulnerable
- manipulativeSkilled at controlling others
- mercenarySoldier fighting for pay
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- parasiticExploiting a host organism
profiteering · vulturous · rapacious · grasping · extractive · self-interested · user · gold-digger
Strongly desiring achievement
- aspiringSeeking to achieve
- careeristAdvancement-obsessed professional
- climberOne who scales
- drivenIntensely determined to achieve
enterprising · hungry · power-hungry · relentless · self-serving · striver · vaulting · go-getter
Suited for real use
- realisticTrue to life
- utilitarianPrioritizing function over beauty
- expedientUseful if not ideal
- no-nonsenseSerious and efficient
hardheaded · results-oriented · realpolitik · transactional · cost-benefit · unsentimental
Able to bend freely
- resourcefulSkilled at solving problems
- versatileCapable in varied contexts
- improvisingCreating spontaneously without plan
- nimbleQuick and light-moving
agile · responsive · quick-thinking · seizing · pivoting · capitalizing · makeshift · improvisational
Deliberately planned for advantage
- calculatedFigured out mathematically
- timedMeasured for duration
- well-timedHappening at the best moment
- flankingAt the sides of
ambush · guerrilla · counterattack · feint · maneuvering · positioning · surprise · blindside
Disease-causing microorganism
- immunocompromisedReduced ability to fight infection
- HIVAIDS-causing retrovirus
- AIDSImmune deficiency syndrome
- candidiasisYeast-caused fungal infection
cytomegalovirus · toxoplasmosis · coinfection · vulnerable · immunosuppression · tuberculosis · fungal · viral
predatory
Exploiting the vulnerable
- manipulativeSkilled at controlling others
- mercenarySoldier fighting for pay
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
parasitic · profiteering · vulturous · rapacious · grasping · extractive · self-interested · user · gold-digger · carpetbagger
ambitious
Strongly desiring achievement
driven · enterprising · hungry · power-hungry · relentless · self-serving · striver · vaulting · go-getter · status-seeking
practical
Suited for real use
- realisticTrue to life
- utilitarianPrioritizing function over beauty
- expedientUseful if not ideal
no-nonsense · hardheaded · results-oriented · realpolitik · transactional · cost-benefit · unsentimental
flexible
Able to bend freely
- resourcefulSkilled at solving problems
- versatileCapable in varied contexts
- improvisingCreating spontaneously without plan
nimble · agile · responsive · quick-thinking · seizing · pivoting · capitalizing · makeshift · improvisational · on-the-fly
strategic
Deliberately planned for advantage
- calculatedFigured out mathematically
- timedMeasured for duration
- well-timedHappening at the best moment
flanking · ambush · guerrilla · counterattack · feint · maneuvering · positioning · surprise · blindside · exploitation
pathogen
Disease-causing microorganism
- immunocompromisedReduced ability to fight infection
- HIVAIDS-causing retrovirus
- AIDSImmune deficiency syndrome
candidiasis · cytomegalovirus · toxoplasmosis · coinfection · vulnerable · immunosuppression · tuberculosis · fungal · viral · bacterial
- playstylesaggressive, defensive, passive, casual, competitive
- personalitiesintrovert, optimist, extrovert, pessimist, idealist
- selfish traitsselfish, greedy, self-centered, self-absorbed, egotistical
- street smartsstreet smarts, savvy, resourceful, resourcefulness, cunning
- transactional termsquid pro quo, exchange, trade, deal, bargain
- microbiologybacteria, bacterium, microbe, microbes, microorganisms
opportunisticprincipled
Having strong moral beliefs
ethical · scrupulous · honorable · moral · conscientious
opportunisticstrategic
Deliberately planned for advantage
methodical · deliberate · planned · systematic · calculated