EXPENSIVE Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

expensive

adjective

ik-ˈspen(t)-siv

Definition of expensive

as in costly

commanding a large price expensive clothing that only the truly wealthy can afford

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 In other words, don’t let an expensive bottle of pills distract you from the basics. — Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 16 Sep. 2026 Lydia Teel, the authority’s Emerging Water Resources program administrator, said the process also is less expensive to build and operate than reverse osmosis. — Piper Heath, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026 Now every SaaS company that spent the last three years bolting AI features onto legacy infrastructure just got very expensive news. — Rafael Flores, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026 The 30-year mortgage rate has since climbed to 7%, a fresh one-year high, making every new buydown more expensive to originate. — Tony Zhang, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for expensive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for expensive

Adjective

But drops, penalties and turnovers repeatedly stalled FIU’s momentum and ultimately proved too costly to overcome.

— Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2026
Turning the park into an upscale golf course will mean costlier fees and a loss of public space, residents worry.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of costly

Adjective

And in addition to uncovering valuable data on the business itself, the audit can look into how AI answer engines appear to respond to questions about a category, an industry and competitors.

— Michelle Mekky, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Sustained across multiple member states over time, these attitudes could erode the institutional architecture that makes the EU such a valuable partner.

— JONAS NAHM, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of valuable

Adjective

Graham birdied the last two holes to earn a precious halve against 17-year-old Miles Russell.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2026
Catalytic converters made with precious metals palladium, platinum and rhodium are especially targeted, according to the Justice Department.

— Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of precious

Adjective

Whereas Putin takes extravagant risks on the international stage but is loath to hold his associates accountable for incompetence, Xi is just the opposite.

— Jonathan A. Czin, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026
Bob Mackie, the designer whose glittering, extravagant creations helped define the look of some of the 20th century’s biggest stars, has died at 87.

— Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of extravagant

Browse Nearby Words

expenses

expensive

expensively

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Expensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expensive. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of expensive

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

churlish

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18

Popular

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes