Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🗡️ Mercenary leader 💼 Power-seeking leader
condottiere

condottiere

9.9
A leader who changes sides to gain money or power
  • noun
  • /kɒnˈdɒtɪˌɛr/
  • Formal
translation icon : condotiero
  • The ambitious condottiere sought wealth and fame by orchestrating battles between rival factions.

Examples

  • He styled himself a condottiere, using his cunning and charisma to gain power in the chaotic political landscape.

  • These men, these condottieri, succeeded by strength and boldness, courage, force of personality, not by birth.

  • Throughout history, the condottiere often manipulated conflicts for their own gain, showing little loyalty to any side.

Synonyms

politician
vscondottiere
  • Offensive
100 5.4

A person who uses secret plans to gain power in a group

focuses on personal profit and opportunistic gains rather than internal scheming
opportunist
vscondottiere
27 5.9

A person who takes chances to get ahead for personal gain, ignoring what is right

seeks power mainly for personal profit through opportunistic actions
power-hungry politician
vscondottiere
  • Offensive
5.3

A politician who wants too much control over others

seeks power mainly for personal profit, acting opportunistically rather than only desire

Antonyms

philanthropist
30 7.0

A person who gives money to help people or charities

altruist
3 6.7

A person who cares about others and helps them without expecting anything back

How Opportunistic

opportunist
27 5.9
condottiere
  • Formal
9.9
mercenary
97 8.3
leader
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

condottiere singular
condottieri plural

Etymology

Condottiere also now means a leader who works for whoever pays most. Because these leaders were paid by condotta ('contract') and often changed sides for more money, the word can mean someone who seeks power or profit for themselves.