at the expense of

phrase

: in a way that harms (something or someone)

Malls flourished at the expense of small stores downtown.

He argues that the tax cut will benefit the rich at the expense of the poor.

Examples of at the expense of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The finding suggests the ground is shifting for the cannabis industry, at the expense of alcohol and Big Tobacco. — Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

But a home that cannot absorb something deeply meaningful is striving for taste at the expense of inauthenticity. — Steven Weill, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026

Softer rubber can produce stronger traction but may abrade more quickly, while harder compounds tend to last longer at the expense of grip. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 2026

Hard hits are welcome, but not at the expense of leaving the team vulnerable to odd-man rushes. — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for at the expense of

• above
• foxglove
• hereof
• thereof
• whereof
• dove
• glove
• love
• shove
• hereinabove