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
Health-care stocks continued to bounce back at the expense of momentum names such as Palantir and Club name GE Vernova .
—
Matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2025
Comparisons are already being drawn to what Britain, France and Italy did at the expense of Czechoslovakia at Munich on Sept. 30, 1938.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2025
Without a doubt, the plan can turbocharge corporate American AI — but likely at the expense of the democratic values the U.S. has long worked to uphold.
—Mohammad Hosseini, Twin Cities, 10 Aug. 2025
This may become more urgent if important European manufacturers look to be in danger of collapse at the expense of Chinese success.
—Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for at the expense of
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2025
Comparisons are already being drawn to what Britain, France and Italy did at the expense of Czechoslovakia at Munich on Sept. 30, 1938.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2025
Without a doubt, the plan can turbocharge corporate American AI — but likely at the expense of the democratic values the U.S. has long worked to uphold.
—Mohammad Hosseini, Twin Cities, 10 Aug. 2025
This may become more urgent if important European manufacturers look to be in danger of collapse at the expense of Chinese success.
—Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 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 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share