n. a means to an end; not necessarily a principled or ethical one

adj. serving to promote your interest; "was merciful only when mercy was expedient"

adj. appropriate to a purpose; practical; "in the circumstances it was expedient to express loyalty"

adj. promoting or enhancing well-being; "an arms limitation agreement beneficial to all countries"; "the beneficial effects of a temperate climate"; "the experience was good for her"

adj. providing assistance or serving a useful function

adj. of service or assistance; "a child who is helpful around the house can save the mother many steps"

adj. suitable or at a time that is suitable or advantageous especially for a particular purpose; "an opportune place to make camp"; "an opportune arrival"

adj. before a time limit expires; "the timely filing of his income tax return"

adj. worthy of being recommended or suggested; prudent or wise; "such action is neither necessary nor advisable"; "extreme caution is advisable"; "it is advisable to telephone first"

adj. appropriate to a purpose; practical; "in the circumstances it was expedient to express loyalty"

adj. having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree; "is there intelligent life in the universe?"; "an intelligent question"

adj. according with custom or propriety; "her becoming modesty"; "comely behavior"; "it is not comme il faut for a gentleman to be constantly asking for money"; "a decent burial"; "seemly behavior"

adj. marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness; "proper medical treatment"; "proper manners"

adj. marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness; "proper medical treatment"; "proper manners"

adj. appropriate for a condition or purpose or occasion or a person's character, needs; "everything in its proper place"; "the right man for the job"; "she is not suitable for the position"; "he is not a suitable husband for her"

adj. having or prompted by wisdom or discernment; "a wise leader"; "a wise and perceptive comment"

adj. marked by the exercise of good judgment or common sense in practical matters; "judicious use of one's money"; "a wise decision"

adj. proceeding from good judgment

adj. careful and sensible; marked by sound judgment; "a prudent manager"; "prudent rulers"; "prudent hesitation"; "more prudent to hide than to fight"

adj. avoiding waste; "an economical meal"; "an economical shopper"; "a frugal farmer"; "a frugal lunch"; "a sparing father and a spending son"; "sparing in their use of heat and light"; "stinting in bestowing gifts"; "thrifty because they remember the great Depression"; "`scotch' is used only informally"

adj. excessively unwilling to spend; "parsimonious thrift relieved by few generous impulses"; "lived in a most penurious manner--denying himself every indulgence"

adj. careful and diligent in the use of resources

adj. mindful of the future in spending money; "careful with money"

adj. of or relating to Machiavelli or the principles of conduct he recommended; "Machiavellian thinking"

adj. marked by skill in deception; "cunning men often pass for wise"; "deep political machinations"; "a foxy scheme"; "a slick evasive answer"; "sly as a fox"; "tricky Dick"; "a wily old attorney"

adj. marked by practical hardheaded intelligence; "a smart businessman"; "an astute tenant always reads the small print in a lease"; "he was too shrewd to go along with them on a road that could lead only to their overthrow"

adj. worthy of being recommended or suggested; prudent or wise; "such action is neither necessary nor advisable"; "extreme caution is advisable"; "it is advisable to telephone first"

adj. appropriate for achieving a particular end; implies a lack of concern for fairness

adj. serving to promote your interest; "was merciful only when mercy was expedient"

adj. having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree; "is there intelligent life in the universe?"; "an intelligent question"

adj. according with custom or propriety; "her becoming modesty"; "comely behavior"; "it is not comme il faut for a gentleman to be constantly asking for money"; "a decent burial"; "seemly behavior"

adj. giving an advantage; "a contract advantageous to our country"; "socially advantageous to entertain often"

adj. suited to your comfort or purpose or needs; "a convenient excuse for not going"

adj. 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"

adj. being of use or service; "the girl felt motherly and useful"; "a useful job"; "a useful member of society"

adj. without scruples or principles; "unscrupulous politicos who would be happy to sell...their country in order to gain power"

adj. marked by the exercise of good judgment or common sense in practical matters; "judicious use of one's money"; "a wise decision"

adj. skillful in statecraft or management; "an astute and sagacious statesman"

adj. not suitable or advisable; "an inexpedient tactic"

adj. constituting a disadvantage

adj. not practical; not workable or not given to practical matters; "refloating the ship proved impractical because of the expense"; "he is intelligent but too impractical for commercial work"; "an impractical solution"

adj. not appropriate to the purpose