Definitions
- Referring to someone who is only interested in serving their own interests and advancing their career, regardless of the consequences. - Describing a person who is willing to change their opinions or beliefs to suit those in power or authority. - Talking about someone who is focused on gaining personal benefits and advantages, even if it means compromising their values or principles.
- Referring to someone who takes advantage of opportunities as they arise, often without regard for the consequences or ethics involved. - Describing a person who is willing to exploit situations for their own benefit, even if it means taking advantage of others. - Talking about someone who is focused on achieving their goals and objectives, regardless of the methods used or the impact on others.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe behavior that is self-serving and focused on personal gain.
- 2Both words can be used to criticize someone's actions or motives.
- 3Both words have negative connotations and imply a lack of integrity or ethics.
- 4Both words involve taking advantage of situations or circumstances for personal benefit.
What is the difference?
- 1Focus: Timeserving emphasizes serving one's own interests and advancing one's career, while opportunism focuses on taking advantage of opportunities as they arise.
- 2Timing: Timeserving implies a long-term strategy of serving one's own interests over time, while opportunism suggests a more immediate and short-term approach.
- 3Flexibility: Timeserving may involve changing one's opinions or beliefs to suit those in power, while opportunism may involve exploiting situations or circumstances for personal gain.
- 4Motivation: Timeserving may be motivated by a desire for power or status, while opportunism may be motivated by a desire for wealth or success.
- 5Connotation: Timeserving has a more negative connotation than opportunism, which can sometimes be seen as a positive trait in certain contexts.
Remember this!
Timeserving and opportunism are both words that describe behavior that is self-serving and focused on personal gain. However, timeserving emphasizes serving one's own interests and advancing one's career, often at the expense of others, while opportunism focuses on taking advantage of opportunities as they arise, often without regard for ethics or consequences.