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opportunism Definition

op·por·tun·ism (--iz′əm)

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

Etymology: Fr opportunisme

opportunism Related Forms
op′·por·tun·ist noun, adjective
opportunism Synonyms

opportunism

n.

expediency, timeliness, exploitation, making hay while the sun shines*, striking while the iron is hot*, getting while the getting is good*; see also advantage 3.

opportunism Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • fight: Before the war, when German Social-Democracy was orthodox, it fought opportunism by the same mild method that Kostrzewa spoke of here.
  • oppose: We must continue to demand socialist policies and oppose opportunism, all the way to the ballot box.
  • defend: This view is not merely false: it is a deliberate attempt to defend the opportunism of all anti-communist trends in the labor movement.
  • denounce: Liu Renjing was also liberated, and bombarded Shanghai and the International Secretariat with letters denouncing the opportunism and the capitulation of Chen Duxiu.
  • reveal: The practical application of the latter demand has revealed much opportunism.

Preposition: on

  • part: But to celebrate this as a positive thing reveals a deep opportunism on the part of the Stop The War campaign.

Adjective modifier

  • crass: Nevertheless, putting that chameleon-like behavior aside, there was nothing inevitable about such crass opportunism.
  • cynical: This is cynical political opportunism of the worst kind.
  • political: The reason for the change of message is political opportunism.
  • pure: It is pure opportunism, an attempt to gain the support of an increasingly vociferous motoring lobby.
  • commercial: Chester is an historic city, with a unique shopping center and a strong sense or commercial opportunism.
  • such: The trouble is, such opportunism only works in the short term.

Modifies a noun

  • ': Opportunism â where you buy a company you hadnât planned or expected to on a whim â leads to disappointment or disaster.
  • degree: In this step, production chains might decide to break up the chain, this decision is function of their opportunism degree.

Preposition: in

  • movement: These super-profits of thousands of millions form the economic basis on which opportunism in the labor movement is built.
  • question: Opportunism In Questions of Organization subtitle: --- subtitle: R. A Few Words on Dialectics.
  • relation: Absolutely alien to us is any sort of reformist opportunism in relation to the peasantry.
  • organization: Opportunism in program is naturally connected with opportunism in tactics and opportunism in organization.

Preposition: of

  • leadership: SWP comrades who are unhappy about the opportunism of the leadership should not be blinded by such games.
  • kind: This is cynical political opportunism of the worst kind.

Browse dictionary entries near opportunism

  1. opportune
  2. opponent
  3. opponency
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  6. Oppenheimer
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  8. opossum shrimp
  9. opossum
  10. Oporto
  1. opportunist
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  4. opportunity cost
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  10. opposite number