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expense

noun

ik-ˈspen(t)s How to pronounce expense (audio)
Definition of expensenext
as in cost
a payment made in the course of achieving a result they spared no expense in building the house of their dreams

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 expense Growth Without Compromise There’s a misconception that wholesale growth always comes at the expense of brand control. — Advertorial, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026 Organizers entered the weekend facing financial constraints that required them to scale back expenses. — J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2026 An aging air conditioner, water heater or appliance can work perfectly one day and turn into an unexpected expense the next. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026 Trump apparently valued Kushner’s loyalty, and also his willingness to absorb a joke at his own expense. — Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for expense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expense
  1. cost
  2. expenditure
Noun
  • The tariff cost will vary by product, ranging from 15% to 50%, according to reports.
    — Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Promise a rebate to every taxpayer when the size and cost of government is reduced.
    — Cal Thomas, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of cost
Noun
  • During the 2023-2024 election cycle, Turning Point PAC contributed in $872,814 in independent expenditures and communication costs to Trump, data from OpenSecrets showed.
    — Elena Tittel, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Core personal consumption expenditures, which exclude the volatile costs of food and energy, have continued to rise.
    — Sarah Moreno, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of expenditure

Browse Nearby Words

expends
expense
expenses
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Cite this Entry

“Expense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expense. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on expense

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about expense

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