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🌍 A risk-taker ⚠️ Risky actions 🕴️ A reckless person
adventurist

adventurist

8.1
A person who takes risky, selfish actions to gain advantage in politics or business
  • noun
  • /ædˈvɛnʧərɪst/
  • Literature
translation icon : oportunista
  • The business decision was seen as a reckless move by adventurists looking to profit during the crisis.

Examples

  • Not to mention the drivel from Howard Eppis, the world's most notorious, most counter-revolutionary adventurist.

    The Big Fix (1978)

  • Many criticized the senator as an adventurist for pushing through controversial policies without considering the consequences.

  • In the meeting, she warned that the actions of political adventurists could destabilize the entire region.

Synonyms

mercenary
vsadventurist
4 7.3

Doing things mainly for money rather than for belief or loyalty

seeks personal advantage through risky or unprincipled acts beyond money motive
opportunist
vsadventurist
1 6.5

Taking chances to get ahead for personal gain, ignoring what is right

acts with planned risky moves aiming personal advantage not mere quick chances
thruster
vsadventurist
  • Offensive
1 8.0

A person who pushes ahead without caring about others' views

prefers risky or unprincipled acts for advantage rather than mere forceful intrusion
gamesman
vsadventurist
  • Archaic
8.8

A person who uses clever and sometimes unfair plans to get an advantage in politics or business

takes risky and unprincipled actions rather than cautious strategic moves
zopilote
vsadventurist
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who profits from other people's misfortune

uses risky or unprincipled actions in many situations, not only when others suffer

How Opportunistic

adventurist
  • Literature
8.1
opportunist
27 5.9
rogue
129 5.9
pragmatist
16 6.9
idealist
33 5.0

Surface Forms

adventurist singular
adventurists plural

Morphology

adventurist = adventure (semi-transparent) = adventure + ist

Formed from 'adventure' + '-ist' but used in a pejorative/specific sense ('one who takes risky or unprincipled actions to gain advantage'), which is an extended pragmatic meaning.

Etymology

Adventurist comes from adventure, a word for a risky 'chance' or undertaking. That's why someone called an adventurist in politics or business is seen as taking risky, often unprincipled actions to gain an advantage.