Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun expedient

1 sense of expedient

Sense 1
expedient -- (a means to an end; not necessarily a principled or ethical one)
       => means, agency, way -- (how a result is obtained or an end is achieved; "a means of control"; "an example is the best agency of instruction"; "the true way to success")

Antonyms of adj expedient

2 senses of expedient

Sense 1
expedient (vs. inexpedient) -- (serving to promote your interest; "was merciful only when mercy was expedient")

inexpedient (vs. expedient) -- (not suitable or advisable; "an inexpedient tactic")
        => inadvisable -- (not advisable; "an unnecessary and inadvisable action")

Sense 2
expedient -- (appropriate to a purpose; practical; "in the circumstances it was expedient to express loyalty")

INDIRECT (VIA politic) -> impolitic -- (not politic; "an impolitic approach to a sensitive issue")

Similarity of adj expedient

2 senses of expedient

Sense 1
expedient (vs. inexpedient) -- (serving to promote your interest; "was merciful only when mercy was expedient")
       => advantageous -- (appropriate for achieving a particular end; implies a lack of concern for fairness)
       => opportunist, opportunistic, timeserving -- (taking immediate advantage, often unethically, of any circumstance of possible benefit)
       => carpetbag, carpetbagging -- (presumptuously seeking success or a position in a new locality; "a carpetbag stranger"; "a capetbag politician")
          Also See-> advantageous#1; convenient#1; politic#1; useful#1, utile#1

Sense 2
expedient -- (appropriate to a purpose; practical; "in the circumstances it was expedient to express loyalty")
       => politic (vs. impolitic) -- (marked by artful prudence, expedience, and shrewdness; "it is neither polite nor politic to get into other people's quarrels"; "a politic decision"; "a politic manager"; "a politic old scoundrel"; "a shrewd and politic reply")