at the expense of
idiom
: 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
In an interview in August, tech journalist Cleo Abram asked Altman to give an example of a business decision that was best for the world at the expense of his own company’s ascendancy.
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Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025
Yes, kids should be taught financial literacy in school, but not at the expense of classic literature.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 14 Oct. 2025
The prime minister’s critics, including some hostage families, have long accused him of prolonging the war to distract from multiple political scandals, at the expense of recovering the hostages.
—Kara Fox, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Getting carried away by external validation — chasing titles, applause, or financial wins at the expense of your deeper purpose.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for at the expense of
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Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025
Yes, kids should be taught financial literacy in school, but not at the expense of classic literature.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 14 Oct. 2025
The prime minister’s critics, including some hostage families, have long accused him of prolonging the war to distract from multiple political scandals, at the expense of recovering the hostages.
—Kara Fox, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Getting carried away by external validation — chasing titles, applause, or financial wins at the expense of your deeper purpose.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for at the expense of
Cite this Entry
“At the expense of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20the%20expense%20of. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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