at the cost of
idiom
: by giving up or hurting (something else)
She completed the project on time but at the cost of her health.
Examples of at the cost of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tackling low-value administrative tasks at the cost of the weightier, more challenging tasks on your to-do list is a far bigger issue for productivity than many are aware of.
—
Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
From juggling client showings to closing deals, agents are constantly pulled in multiple directions — often at the cost of personal milestones, family time, or even their own health.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
Technically the tournament winner, Stu spent months in orbit around Earth—alone, grieving, working out—thanks to his wish being granted at the cost of isolation.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
After all, though TikTok may tell you that everyone is doing up their dorm rooms at the cost of roughly a new car, in reality, the average family spend (according to a RetailMeNot poll) is a much less jaw-dropping $598.
—Alex Apatoff, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
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Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
From juggling client showings to closing deals, agents are constantly pulled in multiple directions — often at the cost of personal milestones, family time, or even their own health.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
Technically the tournament winner, Stu spent months in orbit around Earth—alone, grieving, working out—thanks to his wish being granted at the cost of isolation.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
After all, though TikTok may tell you that everyone is doing up their dorm rooms at the cost of roughly a new car, in reality, the average family spend (according to a RetailMeNot poll) is a much less jaw-dropping $598.
—Alex Apatoff, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for at the cost of
Cite this Entry
“At the cost of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20the%20cost%20of. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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