Synonyms of costly

costly

adjective

ˈkȯs(t)-lē 

as in expensive

commanding a large price

running is one sport that does not require a lot of costly equipment

Synonyms & Similar Words

• expensive
• valuable
• precious
• premium
• extravagant
• pricey
• high
• luxurious
• priceless
• high-end
• spendy
• dear
• prohibitive
• big-ticket
• steep
• high-ticket
• exorbitant
• unaffordable
• uneconomic
• unreasonable
• overpriced
• ultraexpensive
• invaluable
• deluxe
• inestimable
• sky-high
• sumptuous
• stiff

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inexpensive
• cheap
• reasonable
• moderate
• worthless
• valueless
• discounted

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of costly

His gaffe was especially costly, because the team lost in 13 innings the night before and taxed its bullpen. — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026

Getting embroiled in a broader conflict would be a risky and potentially costly option for Riyadh. — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

Disruptions at Bab el-Mandeb force Saudi crude onto longer, costlier routes and add to strains on global trade. — Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Companies like Poppi and LEGO show how empowering communities to shape offerings provides crucial early signals for future trends, avoiding costly missteps. — Brieane Olson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026