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
Depleting our rainy-day fund, aggressively raising taxes on businesses or adding to our debt are politically expedient but not useful in the long run. Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2025 The transfer has received bipartisan support and an expedient legislative process, a rarity in recent Smithsonian history. Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 5 Dec. 2024
Noun
During election seasons, calling for enhanced punitive measures—whether those are mandatory minimum sentences or the death penalty—have frequently proved politically expedient for both sides of the political aisle. TIME, 10 Feb. 2025 But history shows that this approach—while politically expedient—is inherently fragile. Casey Burgat, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for expedient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expedient
Adjective
  • Her action was no surprise—judges don’t tend to be well disposed toward efforts to bump them off cases, which is why prudent litigants are wary of making such requests.
    Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Not all stocks will weather the storm equally, but undervalued, dividend-paying companies—particularly those with strong balance sheets and a track record of prudent capital discipline—are well-positioned to navigate the turbulence.
    John Buckingham, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • There’s simply no substitute for the positive outcomes that qualities like grit, individual effort, commitment and consistency can predictably bring into your life.
    Vinesh Sukumaran, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Wellness shots should be consumed in moderation and are not a substitute for a well-rounded diet.
    Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, LD, Health, 26 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • And on Wednesday, the Mets and Rangers provided opportunities to see their respective offerings in a span of about six hours.
    Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Appearing on The Tonight Show, Isaacs was asked the reaction to his character’s accent and took the opportunity to make light of his full frontal moment.
    Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • However, for industries with short value chains, such as data and information services or software companies, forming a joint venture will invariably require joining forces with an existing or future competitor and is therefore less desirable.
    Raj Sharma, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • In a hot market, appraisal gaps became commonplace in the most desirable neighborhoods and price points.
    TC Brown, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The House voted Tuesday to effectively kill a discharge petition championed by Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida that forced a vote on a measure that would have permitted remote voting for new parents.
    Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The study aimed to analyze a thousand births to Black women in Detroit to better understand why some babies are born pre-term, based on an epigenetic measure of age.
    E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Many others fall victim to arbitrary decisions by platforms that have no meaningful oversight and provide little recourse, appeal, or ability to leave.
    Spencer Cox, Time, 4 Apr. 2025
  • This layered approach ensures users have clear, enforceable recourse if public-sector websites fail to meet accessibility standards.
    Ran Ronen, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Mid-soul-searching, a wise friend suggested something.
    Jed Brewer, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Getting struck by lightning might not sound like a very wise idea to us, but for one tropical tree species, an occasional zap is a good thing.
    Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Reich has been brought in as a stopgap measure, to add some stability to a program in dire need of some after the previous coach’s surprise exit.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Republicans wanted to support it but were forced to vote it down because the Senate was racing to pass a stopgap funding bill just hours before a shutdown deadline.
    Ramsey Touchberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 19 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Expedient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expedient. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on expedient

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!