expensive

adjective

ik-ˈspen(t)-siv How to pronounce expensive (audio)
Definition of expensivenext
as in costly
commanding a large price expensive clothing that only the truly wealthy can afford

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 expensive Yet Alpine’s new architecture has been developed entirely without building expensive prototypes and refining them with any track testing until this point. — New Atlas, 15 July 2026 The results show that many of the most expensive places to visit are remote islands, polar regions, and safari destinations, where higher transportation costs and premium travel experiences can quickly drive up the overall cost of a trip. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2026 That is fixable, and none of it is expensive by government standards. — Katrine Wallace, STAT, 15 July 2026 School’s out and New York City is expensive — a Starbucks refresher is at least $6, a fro-yo much more, and a movie? — Anne Kadet, Curbed, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for expensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expensive
  1. costly
  2. valuable
  3. premium
  4. precious
  5. extravagant
Adjective
  • Being right eventually is not always enough because time is costly.
    — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • The attacks have inflicted lasting damage that will be costly to fix.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Definition of costly
Adjective
  • This auction at Sotheby’s set a record for most valuable fossil ever sold.
    — Kristi Curry Rogers, Washington Post, 16 July 2026
  • Grand Slam events have updated commercial regulations to more clearly distinguish athletic equipment from luxury marketing placements, reflecting how valuable athlete visibility has become for fashion brands.
    — Nethumi Kannangara, Sportico.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of valuable
Adjective
  • Both models are constructed with premium Japanese kip leather and engineered to offer a lighter feel and fast break-in period.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
  • The video board looks the same, but there were upgrades in the guts of that, along with new carpeting and furniture mostly in premium areas and an overhaul of the fan shop.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Definition of premium
Adjective
  • Founded in 2000, APMEX (American Precious Metals Exchange) is one of the largest online retailers of precious metals in the United States and the world.
    — Jamela Adam, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • Argentina fans certainly owned the pre-game festivities, with the white-and-sky-blue jerseys dominating the parking lots, concession booths and precious corners of shade outside Hard Rock Stadium on Friday.
    — Matias Ocner, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
Definition of precious
Adjective
  • The newlyweds, both 36, tied the knot in an extravagant ceremony at the iconic venue July 3, which took over the streets of Manhattan and required the New York Police to shut down the immediate vicinity.
    — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 10 July 2026
  • New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has revealed how much Taylor Swift paid the city for her and Travis Kelce‘s extravagant Madison Square Garden wedding.
    — Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 10 July 2026
Definition of extravagant

Browse Nearby Words

expenses
expensive
expensively
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Expensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expensive. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on expensive

Nglish: Translation of expensive for Spanish Speakers

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