as in prudent
suitable for bringing about a desired result under the circumstances
made the expedient decision to sell the land to whomever offered the most money
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in means
an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result
he vowed to use any expedient available to get the project done on time
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of expedient
Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2025
Trading long-term gains for short-term impact may seem like the expedient choice, except for one lingering question: What if the most expensive decision is not going to college at all?
—Judy D. Olian, TIME, 13 Mar. 2025
Jonathan Stevenson, Foreign Affairs, 20 May 2019
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is going to fill in as national security adviser, which, one hopes, is a very temporary expedient.
—The Editors, National Review, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for expedient
Adjective
Finding someone to out-Trump Trump might look like an expedient solution to an immediate problem.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2025
Trading long-term gains for short-term impact may seem like the expedient choice, except for one lingering question: What if the most expensive decision is not going to college at all?
—Judy D. Olian, TIME, 13 Mar. 2025
Noun
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
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is going to fill in as national security adviser, which, one hopes, is a very temporary expedient.
—The Editors, National Review, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for expedient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expedient
Adjective
-
Banning any emulsifiers that might be found to cause serious harm would be prudent, but then foods that contain them would have to be reformulated—a costly, time-consuming endeavor.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
25 June 2025
-
The trade Given these risks, hedging is prudent for investors with significant tech exposure, particularly those concerned about short-term volatility.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
23 June 2025
Noun
-
There is no substitute for these resources – not from philanthropy, industry or states.—
Shalin Jyotishi,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
-
Disappointed that there was no face-to-face meeting; phone conversations are a substitute.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2025
Noun
-
Gilmore acknowledges the game isn’t the same now with name, image and likeness opportunities and, soon, direct payments to athletes becoming larger factors in putting together and keeping together a team.—
Eric Olson,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2025
-
This opportunity explains why VW has continued to work on autonomous ride hailing while car companies like General Motors and Ford have already given up after nearly a decade of hype and billions of dollars invested.—
Christiaan Hetzner,
Fortune,
21 June 2025
Adjective
-
These two effects are desirable for reducing heart health risks.—
Amber J. Tresca,
Verywell Health,
25 June 2025
-
Macaluso, too, suggests that rather than fighting over redfish, sportsmen ought to expand their notions of which fish are desirable.—
Boyce Upholt,
Smithsonian Magazine,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
Now the mammoth measure heads back to the House, which narrowly passed its own version at the end of May.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
1 July 2025
-
The House measure aims to lower federal costs by freezing states' provider taxes at current rates and prohibiting them from establishing new provider taxes.—
July 1,
CBS News,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
Since mining safety investigations were largely left to the states to oversee, citizens who filed complaints were left with little recourse when reports stalled or went unaddressed.—
Laken Brooks,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
-
Clubs have, perhaps naturally, linked their one avenue of recourse to the existing rules framework.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
Adjective
-
Those who are successful in the job market learn how to embrace tradeoffs to make wise choices.—
Michael B. Horn,
Time,
24 June 2025
-
Washington eventually adopted more sensible approaches that mobilized the resources of key allies, developed a wiser balance between conventional and nuclear tools, and assumed a less confrontational attitude toward Moscow.—
JENNIFER LIND,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
Noun
-
Thomas Bryant and Tony Bradley were decent stopgaps, but a pick on a developmental center makes sense.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
22 June 2025
-
But the temporary funding is only a stopgap until the city can create a plan to maintain the fire rings on its own.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Expedient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expedient. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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