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
Lawmakers might find it more expedient to write clearer statutes. Marie Sapirie, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025 Too often their efforts have been restricted by what politicians consider expedient and necessary. Marquis William Childs, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for expedient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expedient
Adjective
  • But most other Fed officials believe the prudent move would be to wait on lowering interest rates until there is a more material deterioration in labor markets.
    Rob Wile, NBC news, 7 May 2025
  • In the face of policy zig-zags and on-again/off-again pronouncements, the prudent stance is to hold fast, keep one’s powder dry and avoid further risk.
    Jerrold Lundquist, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • If used mindfully, AI can be part of a modern intimacy toolkit, if not leveraged as a substitute for human connection.
    Dominique Fluker, Essence, 15 May 2025
  • Here is Tim’s verdict, based on the lad’s 38 minutes as a substitute.
    Phil Hay, New York Times, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • Afterward, he was given plenty of opportunities to trash-talk.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 4 May 2025
  • But the online Osaka Virtual Expo could attract over 250 million, allowing people who cannot travel to Japan an opportunity to experience the expo, nearly quadrupling the in-person attendance record set by Shanghai Expo in 2010.
    Matt Shaw, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
Adjective
  • Increasingly, global commerce markets make such a move desirable, and Sivagnanam’s past achievements in cross-border payments solutions demonstrate that borderless commerce is within reach.
    Jason Phillips, USA Today, 9 May 2025
  • Malliotakis is from a New York City district that has a different property tax scheme from the one in the suburbs that makes a higher SALT cap more desirable, LaLota said.
    Tobias Burns, The Hill, 7 May 2025
Noun
  • Created through a bipartisan measure signed into law by President Trump in 2020, the lifeline serves veterans and non-English speakers in addition to LGBTQ+ young people.
    Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • Both sides repeatedly accused each other of massive violations until the measure expired.
    DASHA LITVINOVA, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • To have those images removed, victims are left with zero guidance and forced to navigate an evolving landscape with limited recourse against the person posting the fake images.
    Miami Herald Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 May 2025
  • The decision left thousands of Afghans stranded in Pakistan with no clear recourse.
    Zia ur-Rehman, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Relying on security architecture and mutual defense was not wise.
    Frank Lavin, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
  • Infrastructure wise Wrexham are way behind the majority of their competitors.
    The Athletic FC Podcast, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • This risk-free structure allows employers to shift funds away from temporary stopgaps like contract labor and sign-on bonuses and toward investments in long-term, stable staffing.
    Maria Flynn, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Schumer and nine other Democrats in the Senate voted to advance the GOP’s stopgap bill, giving Republicans a big win.
    Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 18 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Expedient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expedient. Accessed 18 May. 2025.

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