1
as in expenses
a payment made in the course of achieving a result
the newlyweds spared no cost in building the kitchen of their dreams
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in fees
the amount of money that is demanded as payment for something
we can't afford the cost of a house just yet, so we're renting an apartment
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in prices
the loss or penalty involved in achieving a goal
they won the war, but at a terrible cost in lives
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in fetches
to have a price of
the raffle tickets cost a dollar each
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of costs
Lana Zak, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
Construction costs are now estimated at $350 million, with completion expected for the 2028 season.
—Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Ticket costs for cultural events will go up while the quality will go down.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
State licensing and regulatory oversight add to the costs.
—Natalia V. Osipova, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Other reasons for taking out a personal loan included paying for emergency expenses (35%), home improvement costs (33%) and education (17%).
—Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 28 Mar. 2026
Even with insurance coverage, which is expensive, most individuals underestimate the costs associated with long-term care.
—Elliot Raphaelson, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
The key is knowing which filming locations double as genuinely affordable travel destinations, and timing your visit to avoid peak crowds that drive up costs.
—Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 21 Mar. 2026
In formal comments to state regulators, the company made clear that compliance costs in California exceed those in other jurisdictions with emissions trading systems.
—Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Worse, may car owners act like their car only costs the incremental cost of operating it, which can appear be under 5 cents/mile in an EV.
—Brad Templeton, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
Lillibridge says his costs have already increased 25% since last year.
—Lana Zak, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
Construction costs are now estimated at $350 million, with completion expected for the 2028 season.
—Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Ticket costs for cultural events will go up while the quality will go down.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
State licensing and regulatory oversight add to the costs.
—Natalia V. Osipova, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Other reasons for taking out a personal loan included paying for emergency expenses (35%), home improvement costs (33%) and education (17%).
—Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 28 Mar. 2026
Even with insurance coverage, which is expensive, most individuals underestimate the costs associated with long-term care.
—Elliot Raphaelson, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
The key is knowing which filming locations double as genuinely affordable travel destinations, and timing your visit to avoid peak crowds that drive up costs.
—Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 21 Mar. 2026
In formal comments to state regulators, the company made clear that compliance costs in California exceed those in other jurisdictions with emissions trading systems.
—Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
Verb
Beyond that, self-parking typically costs $25 per day but may cost more during special events.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Worse, may car owners act like their car only costs the incremental cost of operating it, which can appear be under 5 cents/mile in an EV.
—Brad Templeton, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for costs
Noun
-
Documents reviewed by the Miami Herald show that only a portion of the funds handled through TourProdEnter can be clearly tied to legitimate AFA expenses.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Bohm’s lawsuit also alleges his parents used money from the Alec Bohm Foundation to pay their expenses.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Any class member that wants to object to the settlement or request for attorneys’ fees must do so no later than 21 days prior to the settlement hearing.—
Chase Jordan,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Tickets for the Sunset Concerts re $75 general, $125 VIP and $25 plus fees for East Palo Alto residents with ID on entry.—
Anne Gelhaus,
Mercury News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Property-tax breaks, discounted prices on land, cheap leases, municipal bonds, free utilities—local governments will offer all these things and more to get teams to come or to stay.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Iran’s grip on the strategic Strait of Hormuz has shaken markets and prices.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Shorter fetches often create multiple, less intense bands of snow, while longer fetches can produce severe single bands, sometimes with thundersnow, as seen in the longer geographical positioning of lakes like Erie and Ontario.—
Vytas Reid,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Fresh opium now fetches about $329 per kilogram, more than double the 2019 price of $145.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
4 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
But transportation costs are still the second-largest household cost after housing, averaging 17% of expenditures, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
For example, between 2014 and 2018, PBMs’ share of insulin expenditures nearly tripled with no overall savings to payers.—
Neeraj Sood,
STAT,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Saturn aligning with Pluto brings new boundaries and commitments that reshape your daily routine.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
-
With a 6-foot-4, 194-pound frame, McAlister brings top playmaker ability.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Costs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/costs. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
