summer soldier
Uncommitted crisis deserter
A summer soldier is someone who supports a cause only when it's easy or convenient, abandoning commitment when hardship arrives.
The term comes from Thomas Paine's 1776 pamphlet, contrasting fair-weather patriots with those who persevere through difficult times: These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country.
Unreliable when challenged
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- deserterOne who abandons duty
- defectorOne who abandons allegiance
- traitorOne who betrays allegiance
betrayer · renegade · apostate · quisling · Judas · backstabber · double-crosser · fifth columnist
Erratically disloyal in affection
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- vacillatingSwaying between choices
- irresoluteLacking firmness of purpose
- uncommittedNot bound to anything
flaky · undependable · unreliable · capricious · changeable · unsteady · weak-willed · half-hearted
One who follows trends
- weathercockWind direction indicator
- trimmerCutting or pruning device
- exploiterOne who uses unfairly
- chancerUnscrupulous risk-taker
wheeler-dealer · mercenary · self-serving · calculating · speculator · maneuverer · user · strategist
fair-weather
Unreliable when challenged
traitor · betrayer · renegade · apostate · quisling · Judas · backstabber · double-crosser · fifth columnist · recreant
fickle
Erratically disloyal in affection
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- vacillatingSwaying between choices
- irresoluteLacking firmness of purpose
uncommitted · flaky · undependable · unreliable · capricious · changeable · unsteady · weak-willed · half-hearted · lukewarm
bandwagoner
One who follows trends
- weathercockWind direction indicator
- trimmerCutting or pruning device
- exploiterOne who uses unfairly
chancer · wheeler-dealer · mercenary · self-serving · calculating · speculator · maneuverer · user · strategist · fence-sitter
summer soldiertrue believer
Completely committed adherent
die-hard · loyalist · faithful servant · stalwart · ride-or-die
summer, soldier, summers, summery, summered, summering, soldiers, soldiery, soldiering