as in expensive
commanding a large price
running is one sport that does not require a lot of costly equipment
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Recent Examples of costly
The Revolutionary Armed Forces are designed less to defeat a superior power outright than to endure, disperse and make intervention costly.
—
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026
Difficult conversations are postponed because disappointment, irritation or distance feel too costly.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
The renovation, which took over five years to complete, has been costly.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
According to the theory behind them, these mass drivers could use powerful magnetic fields to throw satellites and other probes into space without the need for costly and heavy chemical propellants.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for costly
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026
Difficult conversations are postponed because disappointment, irritation or distance feel too costly.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
The renovation, which took over five years to complete, has been costly.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
According to the theory behind them, these mass drivers could use powerful magnetic fields to throw satellites and other probes into space without the need for costly and heavy chemical propellants.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for costly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for costly
Adjective
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With earnings now in the background, analysts have been warning that the tech companies benefiting from interest in artificial intelligence may have become too expensive.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 June 2026
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These goods and services are getting more expensive due to spillover from massive tech company investments in artificial intelligence.—
Shira Ovide,
Washington Post,
6 June 2026
Adjective
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The most valuable goods sit at the center of the bazaar, with prices becoming more accessible toward the outer edges.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
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Several of Mourinho’s calls from his first spell are still remembered fondly — from his commitment to Angel Di Maria to short-term solutions such as Emmanuel Adebayor, whose half-season loan spell from Manchester City proved highly valuable during a crucial stretch of 2010-11.—
Guillermo Rai,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Costly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/costly. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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