expediently

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "expediently" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adverb, and it suggests doing something in a prompt and efficient manner. Example sentence: The project was completed expediently, allowing the company to move on to the next task.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

Von Braun may have been, as the satirist Tom Lehrer said, "a man whose allegiance is ruled by expedience," but his keepers behaved expediently as well.

The New York Times - Books

Mr Gogniev's assault took place in a region run like a medieval fiefdom by Ramzan Kadyrov, a militant-for-hire who expediently switched to the Russian side during the wars in Chechnya and was rewarded for that decision with Chechnya's presidency.

The Economist

He had earlier been an uninhibited legacy-hunter, expediently making friends with a dying but wealthy young man.There is probably an element of truth in all three suggestions, for the Wordsworth who emerges from this portrait is a contradictory human being whose motives are rarely pure and never simple.

The Economist

Presumably Mr Storm's present masters have made calculated choices as to what can be expediently disclosed.

The Economist

At the moment, businesses are expediently squeezing as much as they can out of their current workers, or making them work longer hours.

The Economist

A widely publicised campaign mounted by Kurdish activists and British environmentalists, and expediently embraced by a group of Conservative MPs, is already causing a stir.

The Economist

His friend Mark Antony, who has expediently shaken the bloodied hands of the conspirators, gives a stirring funeral oration that inspires the crowd to turn against them.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the months ahead, edited footage of this journey will be used to promote the Obama agenda as he tries to breathe life back into the country's near-paralysed economy and expediently back away from promises made on the campaign trail.

Independent

Places where the Pope stopped in Harlem and the S. Bronx were expediently fixed up.

The New Yorker

It gave the conservatives the habit of appeasing the forces of the hysterical right and to looking to these forces — and appeasing them knowingly, expediently.

The New Yorker

For sure, he has very expediently tacked to the right to win over conservatives, who dominate a statewide primary.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "expediently" to emphasize that an action was taken to achieve a goal efficiently, sometimes implying that other considerations were secondary. Be aware of the potential negative connotation of prioritizing expediency over other values.

Common error

Avoid using "expediently" when the action involves compromising ethical principles. While it highlights efficiency, it can suggest a willingness to sacrifice integrity for speed or convenience. Consider whether alternatives like "efficiently" or "effectively" better reflect your intended meaning in morally sensitive contexts.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "expediently" is as an adverb, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to describe the manner in which an action is performed. As Ludwig confirms, it suggests doing something in a prompt and efficient manner.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The analysis reveals that "expediently" functions as an adverb, signifying actions performed with efficiency and effectiveness to achieve a specific outcome. As confirmed by Ludwig, the term is grammatically sound. While its usage is prevalent across various domains, it particularly shines in news and media, encyclopedias and science contexts. Ludwig's analysis highlights the potential negative connotation, recommending careful consideration when ethical implications are involved. While alternatives such as "efficiently" and "promptly" exist, the choice depends on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

efficiently

Focuses on minimizing wasted resources while achieving a goal.

practically

Emphasizes the usefulness and suitability of an action for a specific purpose.

conveniently

Highlights the ease and lack of difficulty in performing an action.

promptly

Stresses the quickness and timeliness of an action.

swiftly

Implies a high speed and rapid execution of an action.

for the sake of convenience

Replaces the single adverb with a prepositional phrase, emphasizing convenience as the motivating factor.

readily

Indicates willingness and ease in performing an action.

in a timely manner

Rephrases the adverb using a more formal and descriptive phrase, focusing on timeliness.

strategically

Suggests a calculated and purposeful approach to achieve an advantage.

opportunistically

Implies taking advantage of circumstances to achieve a goal, sometimes with a negative connotation.

FAQs

How can I use "expediently" in a sentence?

"Expediently" is used to describe actions done in a way that is efficient and effective, often to achieve a particular goal quickly. For example, "The task was completed "expediently" to meet the deadline".

What words can I use instead of "expediently"?

You can use alternatives like "efficiently", "promptly", or "effectively", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always positive to describe something as done "expediently"?

Not always. While "expediently" suggests efficiency, it can sometimes imply that considerations like ethics or thoroughness were sacrificed for speed. The context is crucial.

What's the difference between "expediently" and "expeditiously"?

Both words relate to speed and efficiency, but "expeditiously" emphasizes speed and promptness in execution, while "expediently" emphasizes achieving a desired outcome, possibly at the expense of other factors.