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View synonyms for expedient

expedient

[ ik-spee-dee-uhnt ]

adjective

  1. tending to promote some proposed or desired object; fit or suitable for the purpose; proper under the circumstances:

    It is expedient that you go.

    Synonyms: profitable, advantageous, desirable, appropriate, advisable

    Antonyms: disadvantageous

  2. conducive to advantage or interest, as opposed to right.
  3. acting in accordance with expediency, or what is advantageous.


noun

  1. a means to an end:

    The ladder was a useful expedient for getting to the second floor.

  2. a means devised or employed in an exigency; resource; shift:

    Use any expedients you think necessary to get over the obstacles in your way.

    Synonyms: resort, contrivance, device

expedient

/ ɪkˈspiːdɪənt /

adjective

  1. suitable to the circumstances; appropriate
  2. inclined towards methods or means that are advantageous rather than fair or just
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


noun

  1. something suitable or appropriate, esp something used during an urgent situation
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • exˈpediently, adverb
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Other Words From

  • ex·pedi·ent·ly adverb
  • nonex·pedi·ent adjective
  • nonex·pedi·ent·ly adverb
  • quasi-ex·pedi·ent adjective
  • quasi-ex·pedi·ent·ly adverb
  • unex·pedi·ent adjective
  • unex·pedi·ent·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of expedient1

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin expedient- (stem of expediēns ), present participle of expedīre. See expedite, -ent
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Word History and Origins

Origin of expedient1

C14: from Latin expediēns setting free; see expedite
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Example Sentences

It was the result of a chain of good decisions—wise, prudent, long-sighted, or, at the least, expedient choices.

So in Florida, backing Medicaid expansion may become the politically expedient thing for the Republican.

Obama noted Thursday that both sides in the conflict blame the U.S., a popular and expedient political tactic in Egypt.

And because “it is very tempting to a minister to employ such an expedient…the practice will…be abused, in every government.”

The egalitarian rule-follower is merely expedient, but the loyal person will go to the wall for you.

I beseech your Majesty to be pleased to have executed immediately what is most expedient for the royal service in this matter.

But, after all, perhaps it might be easier and more expedient if he were to appear to accept the Seneschal's statement.

Probably his retreat would be cut off by some similar device, so the bolder expedient of an advance offered the better chance.

He trusted that what might be done in this matter be most expedient for the service of the king our sovereign.

Yet all this was beside the main point, which was that the action of Congress, whether expedient or not, was illegal.

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expediencyexpediential