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
Relevance
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
Judy Berman, Time, 29 Sep. 2025
Buying from Rheinmetall looks politically expedient.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
In one approach, disagreements about statistics should be part of public, reasoned arguments in which the assumptions, limits and aims of competing choices are interrogated, weighed and debated by those who have a commitment to the truth and not simply to what is expedient.
—Thomas Stapleford, Chicago Tribune, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expedient
Adjective
Mussolini is at once an incisive psychological portrait of one of the 20th century’s most destructive individuals and a clear-eyed dissection of fascism’s politically expedient, intellectually incoherent origins.
—Judy Berman, Time, 29 Sep. 2025
Buying from Rheinmetall looks politically expedient.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
To remedy this, California chose perhaps the most expedient but expensive course of action: Give free food to every kid!
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
In one approach, disagreements about statistics should be part of public, reasoned arguments in which the assumptions, limits and aims of competing choices are interrogated, weighed and debated by those who have a commitment to the truth and not simply to what is expedient.
—Thomas Stapleford, Chicago Tribune, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expedient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expedient
Adjective
-
One factor was investments in human capital, coupled with prudent economic policies.—
Nicholas D. Kristof,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
None restore the fundamental connection between prudent choice and personal benefit that would make the system self-correcting.—
Jared Rhoads,
STAT,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Among the recovered materials, dysprosium, ytterbium, and erbium are considered high-value due to strong demand and limited substitutes, while yttrium and gadolinium are widely used in electronics, lighting, and healthcare.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The sweet side using natural flavors are the Rafaello crepe with coconut, Nutella and strawberries, while the Valentine’s crepe substitutes crème patissiere for the coconut.—
George Castle,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Catherine takes the concept in a different direction, intent on hurting Heathcliff through more emotional means.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
9 Feb. 2026
-
But because many people struggle to get enough vitamin D through natural means, a supplement may be appropriate for those concerned about bone health, Drake said.—
Jamie Ducharme,
Health,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Job seekers in health care may have been able to find work, while opportunities in other sectors were more limited.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Maryland’s future should not be defined by higher costs, bigger government and shrinking opportunity.—
Steve Hershey,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This is especially true for homes that are move-in ready and in desirable locations.—
Tim Maxwell,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Fennell inherently understood what makes these characters so desirable.—
Emily Zemler,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Mohan noted that Western Digital expects the AI and cloud storage market to grow exabytes (EB), a measure of data storage, at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of over 25% through 2030.—
TipRanks,
CNBC,
8 Feb. 2026
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It was proven again in Friday’s 119-115 loss to the lowly New Orleans Pelicans, a third straight defensive dud that left center Rudy Gobert calling for extreme measures of accountability.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But there’s little recourse for local parents to combat a problem resonating nationwide.—
Sam Blum,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Their grief is rendered with the utmost sensitivity that the audience has no recourse but to share it with them.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Our colleague Jason Zengerle knew him as a young wise-guy reporter who leaned, maybe, center right.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Numbers-wise, Deadline reported earlier that the ceremony will include 3,500 athletes and more than 1,300 performers, feature 182 original designs, more than 1,400 costumes and 1,500 pairs of shoes, with 110 make-up artists and 70 hair stylists working behind the scenes.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expedient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expedient. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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