Chess is a foolish expedient for making idle people believe they are doing something very clever when they are only wasting their time.
Source: tatoeba (3052329)
Expedient
/ɪkˈspiːdi.ənt/
Synonyms for "expedient" (254 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (51)
Adjective(3 words)
actionad hoc measureadvantageousadvisableagencyanswerapplicableappropriateaproposartartful dodgeartificeauspiciousbanausicbecomingbefittingbehind-the-scenes influencebeneficialbenevolentblind
Show 21 more words
Adjective(1 words)
Noun(6 words)
Strong matches (76)
decentdemarchedernier ressortdesigndesirabledevicedevicesdodgeeffectiveeffortelegantemployableestimableexcellentexpediencyexpedientsfairfakementfamousfavorable
Show 46 more words
feasiblefeintfelicitousfetchfinefinessefitfittenfittingfortunatefructuousfunctionalgambitgamegimmickgoing betweengoodgood forgoodlygrandgrifthappyhealthyhelpfulhopeimprovisationinfluenceinstrumentinstrumentalityintermediationintriguejudiciousjuggleryjury rigjury-rigjury-rigged expedientkindknaverylast expedientlast resortlast shiftlaudablelikelylittle gameluckymachination
Verb(1 words)
Related words (127)
machinerymakeshiftmaneuvermaneuveringmaneuversmanipulationmaterialisticmeansmeans to an endmeasuremechanismmediationmediummeetmovenicenobleof general utilityof helpof service
Show 80 more words
of useopportunepertinentpis allerpleasantplotploypoliticpolitical influencepossiblepracticablepracticalpragmaticpragmaticalprofitableproperpropitiousprovidentialprudentracketready-maderecommendablerecommendedrecoursered herringrefugeregalresortresourcerightriperoyalruseschemeseasonableseemlyserviceserviceableshake upshake-upshiftskillfulsleightsolutionsortablesoundsplendidstepstopgapstratagemstrategystringstrokestroke of policysubstitutesubterfugesuitabletactictacticaltactical maneuverstacticstemporary expedienttimelyto be desiredtricktrickerytrumpusefulutilitarianvalidvery goodvirtuouswell-timedwilewily devicewire-pullingwiseworking hypothesisworking propositionworthwhile
Noun(18 words)
makeshiftsmakeweightmeasuremethodpracticalpragmaticrule of thumb methodshoehornsshort term fixshortcutshortsightedstopgapsuitabletactictoolunprincipledusefulworkarounds
Adjective(5 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: acceleratory, action, ad hoc measure, ad hoc method, ad hoc notes.
- Sentence evidence is available for expedient, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, wiktionary, opengloss, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "expedient".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "expedient"
Keep "expedient" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "expedient" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "expedient", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "expedient" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
14 entriesMore specific
18 entriesautomationbureaucratic concessioneconomic concessionexpedient agreementexpedient approachexpedient compromiseexpedient concessionexpedient measureexpedient methodexpedient policyexpedient routeexpedient tacticpolitical expedientshortcutstopgaptemplate
Showing 16 of 18 words.
Collocations
8 entrieseconomically expedientexpedient measureexpedient policyexpedient solutionexpedient tacticmorally expedientpolitical expedientpolitically expedient
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
12 entriesSample sentences
16 total sentences available.
Myrtale was convinced in her own mind that as Dryas had to deal with so many rich suitors, he would never consent to Chloe marrying Daphnis; and considered that she had devised the best expedient possible for disposing of the subject of the marriage.
Source: tatoeba (6213195)
Such problems do exist in Interlingua, but it seemed expedient to treat them in connection with the various parts of speech whose functions in the sentence can be made to involve all syntactic questions of practical import.
Source: tatoeba (12390385)
Never lie if the truth is more expedient.
Source: tatoeba (12639327)
Showing 4 of 16 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "expedient"?
Closest matches include acceleratory, action, ad hoc measure, ad hoc method, ad hoc notes.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "expedient"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.