as in expensive
commanding a large price
running is one sport that does not require a lot of costly equipment
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of costly
Over the years, messy planning has led to controversial, costly golden parachutes, shareholder lawsuits, a stockholder revolt and a bitter, distracting proxy fight.
—
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
The rise of interest in electric vehicles, meanwhile, has spurred many large automakers to earmark ad dollars to promote many new technologies to consumers, leaving less money for special — and costly — alliances with specific programs.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
These alternatives are often more effective at reducing recidivism and less costly than secure confinement.
—Jeffrey Shook, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026
Raising taxes on the rich might motivate some to leave Illinois, and losing the Bears may be costly for Chicago.
—Colleen Kujawa, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for costly
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
The rise of interest in electric vehicles, meanwhile, has spurred many large automakers to earmark ad dollars to promote many new technologies to consumers, leaving less money for special — and costly — alliances with specific programs.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
These alternatives are often more effective at reducing recidivism and less costly than secure confinement.
—Jeffrey Shook, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026
Raising taxes on the rich might motivate some to leave Illinois, and losing the Bears may be costly for Chicago.
—Colleen Kujawa, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for costly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for costly
Adjective
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This will overcome the main challenge of firing expensive missile interceptors to knock out these threats; the economics don’t add up.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Mar. 2026
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The newest residents of some of the city’s most expensive real estate pitched their shelters in the shadow of the port where, in 2020, a massive blast rocked most of Beirut, killing hundreds and destroying a chunk of the capital.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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While rainfall runs off quickly and can more readily evaporate from soil, snowpack serves as a valuable and lasting source of moisture and accounts for a majority of water supplies across the region, as much as 80 percent in some areas.—
Mira Rojanasakul,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
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This pattern encodes valuable information.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Costly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/costly. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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