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
Helen Regan, CNN Money, 16 May 2026
For the major ensemble pictures, like Wes Anderson’s frequent collaborators or splashy action films by the likes of Cruise the costs get to be truly eye-popping.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 16 May 2026
If Mamdani makes good on his promise to reduce incarceration, this staffing ratio will grow more excessive, along with per-person costs.
—Jason Rodriguez, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026
In contrast, states’ estate and inheritance taxes, as well mandatory estate administration costs, can hit families with more modest wealth surprisingly hard.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
Production costs can exceed $23 per cwt for smaller farms.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2026
Dispute over wages The union has demanded a total raise of 16% over four years, saying it is needed to help workers keep up with inflation and rising living costs.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 16 May 2026
The unions, which represent locomotive engineers, machinists, signalmen and other train workers, have said more substantial raises were warranted to help workers keep up with inflation and rising living costs.
—Philip Marcelo, Fortune, 16 May 2026
Access to early education remains limited, waitlists are long, and costs continue to rise.
—Tina Dello Russo, Boston Herald, 10 May 2026
Barbara Booth, CNBC, 19 Apr. 2026
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
Noun
Khin Khin, resident of Myanmar’s biggest city Yangon and mother of two sons, said her daily costs have doubled from a year ago.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 16 May 2026
For the major ensemble pictures, like Wes Anderson’s frequent collaborators or splashy action films by the likes of Cruise the costs get to be truly eye-popping.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 16 May 2026
If Mamdani makes good on his promise to reduce incarceration, this staffing ratio will grow more excessive, along with per-person costs.
—Jason Rodriguez, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026
In contrast, states’ estate and inheritance taxes, as well mandatory estate administration costs, can hit families with more modest wealth surprisingly hard.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
Production costs can exceed $23 per cwt for smaller farms.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2026
Dispute over wages The union has demanded a total raise of 16% over four years, saying it is needed to help workers keep up with inflation and rising living costs.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 16 May 2026
The unions, which represent locomotive engineers, machinists, signalmen and other train workers, have said more substantial raises were warranted to help workers keep up with inflation and rising living costs.
—Philip Marcelo, Fortune, 16 May 2026
Access to early education remains limited, waitlists are long, and costs continue to rise.
—Tina Dello Russo, Boston Herald, 10 May 2026
Verb
Shipping experts say rural delivery costs more because drivers make fewer stops per mile, increasing the cost per package.
—Barbara Booth, CNBC, 19 Apr. 2026
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
-
He was also accused of deceiving escrow agents to secure the release of pre-construction condominium deposits and then misappropriated those funds for personal expenses unrelated to the developments.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
-
Furthermore, jockeys may have to cover expenses such as travel and lodging.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Oldfield reportedly told the bank that Epstein brought in more than $1 million a year in fees and trading income, a figure consistent with earlier internal estimates that had pitched his potential value at $2 million to $4 million annually, according to the Financial Times.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
17 May 2026
-
Cairo has leveraged the Suez Canal’s strategic location to host many subsea cables linking Europe and Asia, generating hundreds of millions of dollars annually in transit and licensing fees.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Trump’s approval ratings have fallen to below forty per cent, the Iran war grinds on, and gas prices have been rising, as has inflation.—
Amy Davidson Sorkin,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
-
Average prices in California remain above $6 per gallon.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Presumably whichever region fetches the higher price will be the one Dairyland chooses in the future.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Analysts forecasted free cash flow growth into 2030 despite higher capital expenditures.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
-
The committee’s report, issued in 2011, was inconclusive as to legal wrongdoing but raised concerns about the organizations’ governance and reported substantial and lavish expenditures that benefited the Whites and their family members.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Din initially brings Grogu to the Client and retrieves his reward, only to have a change of heart.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
-
In addition to drug experiments, Varda also brings various defense experiment payloads on its spaceflights for the Pentagon to help defray the cost, Reilly says.—
Ramin Skibba,
Scientific American,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Costs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/costs. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
