If you refer to someone's behaviour as opportunism, you are criticizing them for taking advantage of any opportunity that occurs in order to gain money or power, without thinking about whether their actions are right or wrong.
[disapproval]
The Energy Minister responded by saying that the opposition's concern for the environmentwas political opportunism.
Synonyms: expediency, convenience, exploitation, realism More Synonyms of opportunism
opportunism in American English
(ˌɑpərˈtunˌɪzəm; ˌɑpərˈtjunˌɪzəm)
noun
the practice or policy of adapting one's actions, judgments, etc. to circumstances, as in politics, in order to further one's immediate interests, without regard for basic principles or eventual consequences
Derived forms
opportunist (ˌopporˈtunist)
noun, adjective
Word origin
Fr opportunisme
Examples of 'opportunism' in a sentence
opportunism
This potential bid is an example of cynical opportunism and should not be allowed to proceed.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
There is an element of cynical opportunism to this.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
His unscrupulous past and cynical opportunism were being largely forgotten or forgiven.
Christopher Hibbert DISRAELI: A Personal History (2004)
What was disastrous for them was the whiff of opportunism and cynicism that hangs over them.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This is a most rank example of political opportunism.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There is certainly a decent dose of political opportunism in these moves.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is not always popular and has to be defended against political opportunism and crude social engineering.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Of course, it is more likely to be bad timing than cynical opportunism.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There can be only one: political opportunism.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The essential problem in this area is the cowardice, hypocrisy and opportunism of our political leaders.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Now it has turned to Britain for a satire on the political opportunism and backroom manipulation that go with it.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The refusal of the latter to give him their consistent support was due as much to his self-destructive hedonism as to his political opportunism.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
A premature grab for a safe Westminster seat would be seen as naked opportunism.
The Sun (2012)
A masterpiece of political opportunism.
The Sun (2016)
A lot of political opportunism.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The finger of blame and anger should be directed at our policy makers in recent years and their contemptible combination of wishful thinking, political opportunism and incompetence.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Quotations
There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortuneWilliam ShakespeareJulius Caesar
(noun)
The opposition's concern for the environment was mere political opportunism.
Synonyms
expediency
His decision was dictated by expediency rather than morals.
convenience
exploitation
realism
manipulation
pragmatism
capitalization
realpolitik
utilitarianism
making hay while the sun shines (informal)
striking while the iron is hot (informal)
unscrupulousness
Machiavellianism
Quotation
There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune [William Shakespeare – Julius Caesar]