Synonyms of costly

costly

adjective

ˈkȯs(t)-lē 

as in expensive

commanding a large price

running is one sport that does not require a lot of costly equipment

Synonyms & Similar Words

• expensive
• valuable
• precious
• premium
• extravagant
• pricey
• high
• luxurious
• priceless
• high-end
• spendy
• dear
• prohibitive
• big-ticket
• steep
• high-ticket
• exorbitant
• unaffordable
• uneconomic
• unreasonable
• overpriced
• ultraexpensive
• invaluable
• deluxe
• inestimable
• sky-high
• sumptuous
• stiff

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inexpensive
• cheap
• reasonable
• moderate
• worthless
• valueless
• discounted

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of costly

Our health care system is wasteful, costly and complicated and desperately needs reform. — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026

Splitting up and spreading out childhood vaccines would be a seismic shift for families and a complicated, costly pursuit for the country that would only leave more people vulnerable to preventable diseases. — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

Officially, the suspense file is a tool for legislative leaders to evaluate costly bills by weighing them against one another and deciding what to advance to a vote by the Senate and Assembly. — Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Pet fees can quietly turn a bargain hotel stay into a costly one. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Aug. 2026