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
While coaches are cashing in at the expense of Penn State, Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin was busy raiding nearby recruits.
—
Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
Several human rights groups are concerned that Infantino is cosying up to Trump at the expense of political neutrality.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 2025
However, Sportico’s reporting triggered swift backlash among Beavers fans, who took to social media, fan-site message boards and sports talk radio to condemn what many viewed as a lopsided arrangement that advantaged the company at the expense of the Oregon State and its athletes.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 4 Dec. 2025
The nation’s top basketball programs have already shown a desperate willingness to chase petrodollars in November at the expense of tradition and the tropics.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for at the expense of
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Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
Several human rights groups are concerned that Infantino is cosying up to Trump at the expense of political neutrality.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 2025
However, Sportico’s reporting triggered swift backlash among Beavers fans, who took to social media, fan-site message boards and sports talk radio to condemn what many viewed as a lopsided arrangement that advantaged the company at the expense of the Oregon State and its athletes.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 4 Dec. 2025
The nation’s top basketball programs have already shown a desperate willingness to chase petrodollars in November at the expense of tradition and the tropics.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 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 8 Dec. 2025.
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