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 The fight over a proposal to tax the assets of California billionaires to fund healthcare is getting more expensive. — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026 Borrowing money itself is getting more expensive too, from the interest rate you’re charged to the fees baked into the process. — Sharon Wu, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026 That means workers who have faced discrimination would need to pursue expensive litigation. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026 Supplies are also getting more expensive, according to a report from The Century Foundation. — Ashley Portillo, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for expensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expensive
  1. costly
  2. valuable
  3. premium
  4. precious
  5. extravagant
Adjective
  • He was hurt by penalties on the opening drive and a costly third-down drop by Darius Cooper.
    — Zach Berman, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Most introduced, nonnative plants do not become invasive, but those that do can cause significant, costly problems for landowners, communities, and land managers.
    — Dr. Lauren Kurtz, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of costly
Adjective
  • As luxury becomes both more ubiquitous and more expensive, being desirable without being everywhere could prove a valuable position to hold.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • To further complicate things, baseball is heading toward a labor fight in which owners are aiming to swap short-term financial pain for cost caps that would make every team more valuable.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of valuable
Adjective
  • That is particularly valuable across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, where travel retail remains an important shop window for premium international brands.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • While there is a free version of the app that lets users organize their accounts and track spending, the subscription cancellation feature is part of the premium version.
    — Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of premium
Adjective
  • The study of a patient’s urine was an extremely popular practice in the Middle Ages, even though doctors could tell precious little about what was ailing someone just by looking at a sample in a jar.
    — T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Carlsbad and other coastal cities south of Oceanside worry that any plan to keep sand on the shoreline north of them would prevent the precious grains of grit from migrating south in ocean currents to land on their own eroding beaches.
    — Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of precious
Adjective
  • Arendt comes most fully alive, though, when Meyer lets her own extravagant, commanding voice carry the story forward.
    — David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Ric Flair is known for his flamboyant promos and extravagant pro wrestling career that included several world championship runs across multiple promotions at his peak.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 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 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on expensive

Nglish: Translation of expensive for Spanish Speakers

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