expedient 1 of 2

expedient

2 of 2

noun

1
as in substitute
a temporary replacement if you're a spectator caught without rainwear at a sporting event, then a plastic garbage bag makes an acceptable, if unfashionable, expedient

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
as in opportunity
something that one uses to accomplish an end especially when the usual means is not available since there wasn't a single bandage left in our backpacks, we had to use a bandanna, our only expedient

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word expedient distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words advisable and politic are common synonyms of expedient. While all three words mean "dictated by practical or prudent motives," expedient usually implies what is immediately advantageous without regard for ethics or consistent principles.

a politically expedient decision

How is advisable related to other words for expedient?

Advisable applies to what is practical, prudent, or advantageous but lacks the derogatory implication of expedient and politic.

sometimes it's advisable to say nothing

When could politic be used to replace expedient?

While in some cases nearly identical to expedient, politic stresses judiciousness and tactical value but usually implies some lack of candor or sincerity.

a politic show of interest

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of expedient
Adjective
Firing all probationary employees—which is the most expedient way to reduce the size of government—is a blunt instrument. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 19 Feb. 2025 The United States can also develop transient but expedient partnerships with democratic and nondemocratic states alike, particularly those that fear dominance by assertive regional powers. Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2019
Noun
Yet many districts still prioritize simplistic, politically expedient metrics over nuanced analysis. Scott White, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025 Lawmakers might find it more expedient to write clearer statutes. Marie Sapirie, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for expedient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expedient
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, consumers are at a loss to know which mental health apps are prudent and useful and which ones are problematic and ought to be avoided.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
  • Creating a more even playing time split could be prudent, but the club must be mindful of Caratini’s health as a 31-year-old who has only twice caught more than 500 innings in a season.
    Chandler Rome, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • The information provided here is not legal advice and does not purport to be a substitute for advice of counsel on any specific matter.
    Jonathan Carson, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
  • The time allocated could not be a substitute for instructional time.
    Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • That’s not just a number — that’s more teachers in classrooms, more help for struggling students and more opportunities for success.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
  • Riley took the opportunity to ask Pitt about the 8-year-long legal battle after his ex-wife, actress Angelina Jolie, first filed for divorce on Sept. 20, 2016.
    Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025
Adjective
  • Edgewood’s parlors, its ample lawn, and a fine carriage house with original stables that is under renovation are desirable venues for weddings and corporate retreats.
    John Oseid, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • In early May, the EU’s executive arm, the European Commission, rolled out a plan to respond to Trump by slapping tariffs on more than $100 billion worth of U.S. goods if the negotiations with Washington do not yield a desirable outcome.
    Filip Timotija, The Hill, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • As a measure of how dormant the rivalry is, the two teams have not faced each other since 2008 — a year before Thomas Muller, who will leave Bayern this summer as their record appearance-maker with 751 (so far), had even made his competitive debut.
    Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 7 June 2025
  • In 2015, lawmakers in the state Assembly approved a measure that would have restricted the use of drones over private property without the owner’s permission.
    Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2025
Noun
  • Government leaders must demand algorithmic audits, transparency about AI decision making and citizen recourse when errors occur.
    Darshan Tiwari, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
  • Maryland’s method, by contrast, lacks predictability and places too much discretion in the hands of the comptroller, without transparency or meaningful recourse.
    Sakinah Tillman, Baltimore Sun, 4 June 2025
Adjective
  • Which is wiser: Spending money on more firefighting resources after wildfires break out and absorbing the extraordinary cost of damages, or investing in technologies and training to prevent wildfires from happening in the first place?
    Abhishek Singh, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • Considering Micah Parsons, Trey Hendrickson and T.J. Watt are all in line for new deals soon, getting something done with Hutchinson sooner rather than later would be wise.
    Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • With the funds still not included in the government’s enacted fiscal 2025 stopgap, D.C.
    Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Critics say, however, that the stopgap bill does not affect long-term funding challenges for these programs.
    Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Expedient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expedient. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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