satisficing
Acceptable, not optimal
Satisficing combines "satisfy" and "suffice" to describe choosing an option that meets minimum requirements rather than seeking the optimal one.
From behavioral economics: decision-makers often lack time or information to maximize outcomes, so they accept "good enough." Rather than researching every laptop on the market, I satisficed and bought the first one that met my basic needs.
Practical problem-solving shortcuts
- SimonMasculine given name
- thresholdPoint of beginning
- rule-of-thumbPractical approximate principle
- trade-offsSacrifices for gains
optimization · maximizing · choice · alternatives · decision-making · judgment · preferences · evaluation
Suited for real use
- realisticTrue to life
- feasibleCapable of being done
- constraintsLimits on action
- prioritizationRanking by importance
expediency · utilitarian · workable · down-to-earth · commonsense · judicious · trade-offs · no-frills
Meeting minimum standards
- adequateBarely meeting standards
- passableMinimally sufficient quality
- workableAble to be implemented
- serviceableFit for purpose
threshold · baseline · decent · tolerable · functional · contentment · settling · basic
Exchange requiring sacrifice
- middle-groundIntermediate position between extremes
- concessionYielding a point
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
- give-and-takeMutual concession between parties
negotiation · balance · adjustment · moderation · suboptimal · fallback · alternative · reconciliation
heuristics
Practical problem-solving shortcuts
- SimonMasculine given name
- thresholdPoint of beginning
- rule-of-thumbPractical approximate principle
trade-offs · optimization · maximizing · choice · alternatives · decision-making · judgment · preferences · evaluation · options
practical
Suited for real use
- realisticTrue to life
- feasibleCapable of being done
- constraintsLimits on action
prioritization · expediency · utilitarian · workable · down-to-earth · commonsense · judicious · trade-offs · no-frills · matter-of-fact
acceptable
Meeting minimum standards
serviceable · threshold · baseline · decent · tolerable · functional · contentment · settling · basic · modest
trade-off
Exchange requiring sacrifice
- middle-groundIntermediate position between extremes
- concessionYielding a point
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
give-and-take · negotiation · balance · adjustment · moderation · suboptimal · fallback · alternative · reconciliation · accommodation
satisficingperfectionism
Compulsive pursuit of flawlessness
holding out · insatiability · overachievement · leaving no stone unturned
satisfy, satisfied, satisfaction, sufficient, suffice, satisfactory, dissatisfied, unsatisfied, unsatisfying