Skip to main content
placeseeker

placeseeker

9.9
A person who tries to get a job or office by using favors rather than hard work
  • noun
  • /ˈpleɪsˌsiːkər/
  • Offensive
translation icon : lameculos
  • The politician was accused of being a mere placeseeker without any real vision for the country.

Examples

  • Many placeseekers attended the event, hoping to secure valuable connections with party leaders.

  • The placeseeker constantly flattered her boss to gain a promotion, demonstrating her self-serving nature.

  • He was critical of placeseeker attitudes that prioritized personal advancement over public service.

  • The new placeseeker in the office is very ambitious.

  • Many placeseekers are trying to climb the corporate ladder.

  • At the conference, several placeseekers networked aggressively, hoping to win influential positions within the party.

  • His reputation as a placeseeker grew as he frequently changed his loyalties to align with those in power.

Synonyms

crawler
vsplaceseeker
  • Offensive
5 7.7

A person who praises someone in power to get an advantage

is targeted at winning an official position rather than general personal gain
bootlicker
vsplaceseeker
  • Offensive
2 9.6

A person who flatters someone in power to get favors

uses that servile behavior specifically to win an official post or appointment
courter
vsplaceseeker
9.0

A person who tries to gain someone's favor for personal advantage

focuses on obtaining an official appointment rather than general approval

How Opportunistic

sycophant
  • Offensive
17 9.3
opportunist
27 5.9
placeseeker
  • Offensive
9.9
networker
3 3.7

Surface Forms

placeseeker singular
placeseekers plural

Morphology

placeseeker = place + seeker (transparent) = place + seek + er

Clear compound of 'place' + 'seeker' meaning someone who seeks a place/position; the relation is directly derivable.

Etymology

The word placeseeker joins place ('position' or 'job') and seeker ('someone who looks for something'). It means a person who tries to get an official job or seat by asking for help from powerful people, so it often suggests self-interest rather than public service.