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
More refined versions are filtered and heat-treated, resulting in a lighter color, milder flavor and higher smoke point, though at the cost of fewer bioactive nutrients.
—
Daryl Austin, USA Today, 30 Dec. 2025
Ukraine has compensated by embracing a decentralized structure that allows flexibility and adaptation, but at the cost of scale and coordination.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Dec. 2025
Thus, at the cost of electronic complexity and power consumption, an AEC can extend the distance that copper can reach.
—IEEE Spectrum, 27 Dec. 2025
The future of work might demand AI literacy, but not at the cost of future-proof skills like critical thinking and communication.
—Sophia Romee, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for at the cost 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.
Daryl Austin, USA Today, 30 Dec. 2025
Ukraine has compensated by embracing a decentralized structure that allows flexibility and adaptation, but at the cost of scale and coordination.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Dec. 2025
Thus, at the cost of electronic complexity and power consumption, an AEC can extend the distance that copper can reach.
—IEEE Spectrum, 27 Dec. 2025
The future of work might demand AI literacy, but not at the cost of future-proof skills like critical thinking and communication.
—Sophia Romee, Fortune, 18 Dec. 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 9 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share