Synonyms for practical
- adjective
Most common
pragmatic matter-of-fact functional realistic skilled experienced
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Pragmatic
pragmatic, matter-of-fact, functional, realistic, hard-headed, unromantic, unsentimental, unimaginative
2. Skilled
Other
useful, serviceable, virtual, applied, practicable, working, operable, nontheoretical rare
Definitions
- adj. 1
Relating to, or based on, practice or action rather than theory or hypothesis.
Modern engineering applies science to practical problems.
- adj. 2
Being likely to be effective and applicable to a real situation; able to be put to use.
Jack's knowledge has the practical benefit of giving us useful prototype parts.
Related words
Example sentences
- functional Modern trains are more comfortable and functional.
- realistic Do you really think that your plans are realistic?
- pragmatic She called for a pragmatic approach to the problem.
- useful Rocks and minerals are useful for us in many ways.
- serviceable The ability to quote is a serviceable substitute for wit.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| practical | falling | |
| functional | rising | |
| realistic | falling | |
| pragmatic | rising | |
| useful | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 6 letters
- useful2, versed1
- 7 letters
- working2, applied2, virtual3, skilled1
- 8 letters
- operable4
- 9 letters
- realistic4, pragmatic3
- 10 letters
- functional3, unromantic
- 11 letters
- experienced4, serviceable4, practicable4
- 13 letters
- unimaginative6, unsentimental5
- 14 letters
- nontheoretical
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (useful2 = 2 syllables).