expedient
Useful if imperfect
Expedient describes something practical and effective for achieving a particular goal, even if not ideal or morally optimal.
An expedient solution solves the immediate problem: It was expedient to settle out of court rather than risk a trial.
The word often implies a compromise—choosing what works over what's right.
As a noun, an expedient is a means to an end, especially a makeshift one: Duct tape was a temporary expedient until the plumber arrived.
Created without prior planning
- stopgapTemporary substitute measure
- temporaryLimited in duration
- provisionalConditional and possibly temporary
- interimProvisional in-between phase
ad-hoc · jury-rigged · band-aid · patchwork · cobbled-together · rough-and-ready · ersatz · substitute
Focused on workable solutions
- sensibleShowing good judgment
- practicalSuited for real use
- workableAble to be implemented
- feasibleCapable of being done
realistic · functional · effective · efficient · serviceable · applicable · utilitarian · viable
Producing good results
- profitableProducing financial benefit
- favorableInclined toward approval
- gainfulProducing monetary benefit
- helpfulGiving useful aid
valuable · productive · lucrative · rewarding · fruitful · promising · auspicious · propitious
Benefiting oneself primarily
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- schemingCrafty and calculating
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- manipulativeSkilled at controlling others
unscrupulous · mercenary · Machiavellian · conniving · exploitative · crafty · devious · shrewd
Strategically planned
- calculatedFigured out mathematically
- deliberateConsciously chosen, not accidental
- plannedDecided on beforehand
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
chess-like · political · diplomatic · foresighted · calibrated · measured · purposeful · goal-oriented
improvised
Created without prior planning
- stopgapTemporary substitute measure
- temporaryLimited in duration
- provisionalConditional and possibly temporary
interim · ad-hoc · jury-rigged · band-aid · patchwork · cobbled-together · rough-and-ready · ersatz · substitute · kludge
pragmatic
Focused on workable solutions
feasible · realistic · functional · effective · efficient · serviceable · applicable · utilitarian · viable · useful
beneficial
Producing good results
- profitableProducing financial benefit
- favorableInclined toward approval
- gainfulProducing monetary benefit
helpful · valuable · productive · lucrative · rewarding · fruitful · promising · auspicious · propitious · opportune
self-serving
Benefiting oneself primarily
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- schemingCrafty and calculating
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
manipulative · unscrupulous · mercenary · Machiavellian · conniving · exploitative · crafty · devious · shrewd · artful
tactical
Strategically planned
- calculatedFigured out mathematically
- deliberateConsciously chosen, not accidental
- plannedDecided on beforehand
maneuvering · chess-like · political · diplomatic · foresighted · calibrated · measured · purposeful · goal-oriented · plotted
- efficientefficient, streamlined, optimized, effective, productive
- makeshift fixesquick fix, stopgap, duct tape, band-aid, bandaid
- strategystrategy, grand strategy, tactics, tactic, tactical
- approachesapproach, approaches, method, methods, way
- devicesdevice, gadget, smartphone, tablet, laptop
- no-frillsno-frills, bare-bones, basic, plain, simple
expedientimpractical
Not suited for use
inexpedient · useless · futile · ineffective · counterproductive
expedientprincipled
Having strong moral beliefs
ethical · moral · scrupulous · honorable · noble
expedientinadvisable
Not worth doing
inopportune · ill-advised · unwise · untimely · imprudent
expediency, inexpedient, expedience, expediently, expedients, expediencies