UNAFFORDABLE Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

unaffordable

adjective

Definition of unaffordable

as in exorbitant

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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 unaffordable Nationally, 61% of the 160 metro areas Pew studied were classified as somewhat or very unaffordable for young buyers in 2024 — up from just 41% in 2019. — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026 For a larger container vessel carrying 10,000 TEUs, total cargo fees would have amounted to $109 million—a fee that would be largely unaffordable for shippers. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 14 July 2026 In 2023 the company started planning to install a gas boiler, using biogas or renewable natural gas, as monthly bills for their electric water heaters were becoming unaffordable. — Kyle Devine, Longreads, 14 July 2026 Why has a college degree become akin to an unaffordable luxury for millions of Americans? — Thomas Adam, Fortune, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unaffordable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unaffordable

Adjective

Trump even proposed—then quickly shelved—an exorbitant 20% toll on Hormuz traffic.

— Jordan Blum, Fortune, 18 July 2026
As for coming to America in 2026, who would shoulder the exorbitant costs and the travel challenges, let alone the risk of being pulled out of a line at the Atlanta airport, interrogated, and sent back home for joking about penalty shoot-outs?

— Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 17 July 2026

Definition of exorbitant

Adjective

Antonetti insisted that taking on salary would not be prohibitive.

— Zack Meisel, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Once known predominantly for projecting educational installations at museums and aquariums, IMAX spent decades trying to break into the mainstream, though its limited network of theatres and analog-only format proved prohibitive for major studios.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 22 July 2026

Definition of prohibitive

Adjective

The site will target low-grade titanium-iron tailings that have been uneconomical to process.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 24 July 2026
While attractive due to its proximity to strong local and regional gas markets, exploration for this gas has been sporadic in the basin since the mid-1980s, with experts noting pilot projects were uneconomic, temporarily abandoned or failed.

— Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2026

Definition of uneconomic

Adjective

The purchase set the record for the most expensive home ever sold in Miami-Dade County.

— Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
European consumers have lagged behind the rest of the world in adopting AC, due to high energy costs, expensive installation fees and restrictions on retrofitting the continent’s older buildings.

— Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 30 July 2026

Definition of expensive

Adjective

On the other hand, there are plenty of Tesla novelty items listed on its site that are widely available and overpriced.

— Charles Singh, USA Today, 17 July 2026
Coaches were guilty of rewarding role players with McDavid ice time, and general managers were guilty of signing those middle-six wingers to overpriced contracts.

— Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 6 July 2026

Definition of overpriced

Browse Nearby Words

unaffluent

unaffordable

unafraid

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“Unaffordable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unaffordable. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of unaffordable

adjective

Example Sentences

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