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
The discomforts include not just his recent and possibly expedient diagnosis of bipolar disorder but also the return of the other prodigal, Nazareth. Jesse Green, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2025 Finding someone to out-Trump Trump might look like an expedient solution to an immediate problem. Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
Accomplished by the simple expedient of signing the president’s name. William W Bedsworth, Oc Register, 26 May 2025 Although nobody with even a minimal knowledge of the Troubles believes Adams, many republicans accept his dissembling as a politically expedient ruse, designed in part to give the British, the unionists, and other interested parties political cover for dealing with Sinn Fein. Jonathan Stevenson, Foreign Affairs, 20 May 2019 See All Example Sentences for expedient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expedient
Adjective
  • Further, the company has been prudent in allocating its resources towards innovation and marketing focused on its flagship product, unlike big conglomerates who despite having deep pockets are unable to focus on a particular niche.
    Ankita Dhawan, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
  • Adding another inside linebacker or two would be prudent, and Michigan has players on the board who could fill that need.
    Austin Meek, New York Times, 9 July 2025
Noun
  • The call is for more person-to-person clienteling, which can be aided by AI, yet AI is no substitute for the personal connection.
    Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • But what really rankles is the idea that these digital interlocutors are a plausible substitute for real friends or family.
    Paul Bloom, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • For those who saw Varsity’s dominance as a troubling concentration of power—if not an outright antitrust issue—the collegiate space offered a rare opportunity: a chance to build something outside the reach of a deeply entrenched corporate force.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 14 July 2025
  • The 30th anniversary of Java, which the Java community is celebrating this year, offers a perfect opportunity to reflect on the remarkable changes the ecosystem has undergone.
    Alexander Belokrylov, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Highland Ventures is ready to transform 525 N. Tryon into a more desirable office space after purchasing the building in May for $24 million.
    Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 2 July 2025
  • Lack of charging infrastructure makes used electric vehicles less desirable than gas cars to some car buyers.
    Charles Singh, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Noun
  • Feedback from countless measures provided the intelligence to refine and invent, not just correct and adjust.
    Chip Bell, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
  • One year later, the Secret Service released a public update outlining 37 reform measures in response to those findings.
    ByDonald J. Mihalek, ABC News, 13 July 2025
Noun
  • When something doesn’t make full sense or a thread is lost, the visuals and the performances are so intoxicating there’s no recourse but to give in and enjoy.
    Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 11 July 2025
  • Some travelers seek legal recourse for bed bug incidents.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • In hindsight that decision may not have been the wisest.
    Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 5 July 2025
  • Demonstrating a talent for working in fluent french peppered with a british accent, the actor delivers one of his most indelible acting turns as the sly, wry, and wise business mogul-turned- butler who finds new purpose in life working on the other side of the fence.
    Pete Hammond, Deadline, 3 July 2025
Noun
  • But as both chambers fall behind in their annual funding work, some are already expecting a stopgap measure will be needed to prevent a shutdown in October and buy Congress more time to strike an eventual bicameral funding deal for fiscal 2026.
    Aris Folley, The Hill, 10 July 2025
  • Temporary nuclear waste storage sites run by private companies have emerged as a stopgap solution while the federal government searches for a permanent one.
    Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 18 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Expedient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expedient. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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