expedient
/ɪkˈspiːdi.ənt/adjective
Practical and useful for achieving a particular goal, even if not always the ideal choice.
Example sentences
- “Taking the toll road was the most expedient way to reach the airport.”
- “Lying to his boss seemed expedient at the time, but it backfired.”
Carries a whiff of moral compromise: an expedient solution works now but may not be the right thing to do. 'Politically expedient' is a common, usually critical, phrase.