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Pragmatic

adj. capable, thoughtful professional

What it means

Focused on workable results under real conditions.

Reach for it when praising realistic problem-solving without implying that principles are expendable

The pragmatic coordinator moved the clinic to the school after the road flooded.

Words to choose between 8

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom. Tap a word to see when it fits.
playful
everyday
warm
professional
formal

  • playful

    hardheaded

    Fits when unsentimental realism is intentionally praised

    Careful It can imply coldness or lack of imagination.

  • everyday

    matter-of-fact

    Fits when emotion and theory are set aside for the immediate facts

    Careful A blunt manner can accompany an unworkable choice.

  • everyday

    practical

    Fits when a solution is useful and realistic

    Careful Practical also applies to objects, unlike a pragmatic decision style.

  • warm

    sensible

    Fits when ordinary sound judgment is the safest praise

    Careful Sensible can simply mean conventional and may miss creative adaptation.

  • professional

    realistic

    Fits when assumptions match actual conditions

    Careful Realism can accept a problem without doing anything to solve it.

  • professional

    results-oriented

    Fits when outcomes guide priorities

    Careful The phrase can excuse harmful methods or ignore important process values.

  • professional

    solution-focused

    Fits when attention moves toward resolving a defined problem

    Careful It can rush past understanding, accountability, or valid grief.

  • formal

    expedient

    Fits when a choice is convenient for the immediate purpose

    Careful Expedient often implies sacrificing principle or long-term value.

Opposites 4

Common phrases 4

  • pragmatic approach

    A pragmatic approach kept the library open during the roof repair.

  • pragmatic solution

    The pragmatic solution reused standard parts available in every village.

  • pragmatic compromise

    Their pragmatic compromise preserved access without pretending the dispute was settled.

  • pragmatic decision

    The pragmatic decision protected the clinic's essential services first.

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, public domain Updated