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
The wins over Villa and Madrid were achieved with Andy Robertson restored at left-back, at the expense of new signing Milos Kerkez, and with Dominik Szoboszlai bringing more balance and physical presence by reprising last season’s advanced-midfield role.
—
Oliver Kay, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025
The new conventional wisdom in Washington is that trade and investment with China enriched and empowered the Communist Party of China at the expense of American workers.
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Yet China’s drive to climb the technological ladder and support its industries will likely intensify competition in global markets – potentially at the expense of other countries’ manufacturers.
—Shaoyu Yuan, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2025
In California, Proposition 50 asks voters to redraw congressional maps, at the expense of Republicans, as Democrats respond to mid-decade redistricting in other states like Texas.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2025
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Oliver Kay, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025
The new conventional wisdom in Washington is that trade and investment with China enriched and empowered the Communist Party of China at the expense of American workers.
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Yet China’s drive to climb the technological ladder and support its industries will likely intensify competition in global markets – potentially at the expense of other countries’ manufacturers.
—Shaoyu Yuan, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2025
In California, Proposition 50 asks voters to redraw congressional maps, at the expense of Republicans, as Democrats respond to mid-decade redistricting in other states like Texas.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 3 Nov. 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 11 Nov. 2025.
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