opportunist:
(plural: ‘opportunists‘; pronunciation: the letters ‘tu’ are said with either the ‘too’ sound in “too” or with the ‘tu’ sound in “tube” — for the right pronunciation of this word, please click here)
an opportunist using a weaker person as a spring board to get to a higher postion
a person (or an animal) who takes advantage of the circumstances or opportunity — who does anything when the chance comes up to get some profit or comfort, especially not minding the principles or morals, (i.e. he/she does things that give him more profit or comfort without minding the good or bad of doing those things),
a dirty opportunist robbing a blind beggar
An opportunist is like a rat which eats anything that is available — vegetarian or non-vegetarian, but a principled person is like a lion which does not eat vegetables even when it is going to die because meat is not available.
It is really very sad to know that some opportunists among the rescue team at the train accident stole money and other valuables from the accident victims. (i.e. rescue workers are supposed to be helping the victims, but here we see some opportunist rescue workers who stole money and other valuables from the victims and the dying, leaving them to suffer or die, which is against the moral and ethical principles of a rescue worker)
They say a crow and a hyena can be good examples of an opportunist — they eat anything and everything, steal food from other animals, hunt if there is a chance and even eat rotten meat when food is scarce!
