| Main Entry: | practical |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | realistic, useful |
Synonyms: |
applied, both feet on the ground, businesslike, commonsensical, constructive, doable, down-to-earth, efficient, empirical, experimental, factual, feasible, functional, handy, hard-boiled, implicit, in action, in operation, matter-of-fact, nuts and bolts, operative, orderly, possible, practicable, pragmatic, rational, reasonable, sane, sensible, serviceable, sober, solid, sound, systematic, unidealistic, unromantic, usable, utile, utilitarian, virtual, workable, workaday, working |
| Notes: | practical applies when what is in question is the conduct of affairs, whereas pragmatic applies when the question is the planning with respect to these affairs; practical is anything that can be done and is worth doing, while practicable is anything that can be done - worthwhile or not |
Antonyms: |
impossible, impractical, unfeasible, unrealistic, unserviceable, unworkable, useless, worthless |
| Main Entry: | practical |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | experienced, proficient |
Synonyms: |
accomplished, cosmopolitan, effective, efficient, qualified, seasoned, skilled, sophisticated, trained, versed, vet, veteran, working, worldly, worldly-wise |
Antonyms: |
incapable, inefficient, inexperienced, unproficient, unseasoned, unskilled, untrained, useless |
| Main Entry: | businesslike |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | efficient, professional |
Synonyms: |
accomplished, careful, concentrated, correct, diligent, direct, disciplined, earnest, effective, enterprising, expeditious, hardworking, industrious, intent, matter-of-fact, methodical, orderly, organized, painstaking, practical, practiced, purposeful, regular, routine, sedulous, serious, skillful, systematic, thorough, well-ordered, workaday |
Antonyms: |
amateur, disorganized, inefficient, unbusinesslike, unprofessional |
| Main Entry: | common-sense |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | reasonable |
Synonyms: |
astute, commonsensical, cool, down-to-earth, hard-headed, judicious, levelheaded, matter-of-fact, practical, rational, realistic, sane, sensible, shrewd, sound |
Antonyms: |
foolish, impractical, insane, unreasonable, unsensible, unsound |
| Main Entry: | constructive |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | helpful |
Synonyms: |
effective, positive, practical, productive, useful, valuable |
Antonyms: |
destructive, hurting, injurious, negative, unhelpful |
| Main Entry: | cost-effective |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | economical |
Synonyms: |
practical, profitable, worthwhile |
| Main Entry: | earthly |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | conceivable |
Synonyms: |
feasible, imaginable, likely, mortal, possible, potential, practical, probable |
| Notes: | earthy is 'similar to earth; hearty' or 'coarse, vulgar' while earthly is 'pertaining to human existence on earth'; earthen means 'made of earth or clay' |
Antonyms: |
inconceivable |
| Main Entry: | economical |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | conservative with resources; careful |
Synonyms: |
avaricious, canny, chary, circumspect, close, closefisted, cost-effective, curmudgeonly, efficient, frugal, meager, mean, methodical, miserly, money-saving, niggardly, on the rims, parsimonious, penny-pinching, penny-wise, penurious, practical, provident, prudent, prudential, saving, scrimping, skimping, spare, sparing, stingy, thrifty, tight, time-saving, unwasteful, watchful, work-saving |
Antonyms: |
careless, expensive, uncareful, uneconomical, wasteful |
| Main Entry: | effective |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | productive, persuasive |
Synonyms: |
able, active, adequate, capable, cogent, compelling, competent, convincing, direct, effectual, efficacious, efficient, emphatic, energetic, forceful, forcible, having lead in pencil, impressive, live, moving, on the ball, operative, playing hardball, potent, powerful, powerhouse, practical, producing, resultant, serviceable, serving, sound, striking, sufficient, telling, trenchant, useful, valid, virtuous, wicked*, yielding |
Antonyms: |
fruitless, impotent, incapable, ineffective, unproductive, useless, weak |
| Main Entry: | expedient |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | worthwhile, appropriate |
Synonyms: |
ad hoc, advantageous, advisable, beneficial, convenient, desirable, discreet, effective, feasible, fit, fitting, helpful, judicious, meet, opportune, politic, possible, practicable, practical, pragmatic, profitable, proper, prudent, seasonable, suitable, tactical, timely, useful, utilitarian, wise |
Antonyms: |
inappropriate, inexpedient, unbeneficial, unprofitable, unworthwhile |