costly

adjective

ˈkȯs(t)-lē How to pronounce costly (audio)
Definition of costlynext
as in expensive
commanding a large price running is one sport that does not require a lot of costly equipment

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 costly In the end, not kicking field goals in those situations proved costly. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 According to the department, past methods of tracking success have been limited or costly. — CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 Others sought less costly ways to restore some control over nuclear deterrence. — Ivo H. Daalder, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2026 At the same time, Social Security benefits are becoming more costly as the nation ages, which also contributed to the widening gap between revenue and spending. — Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for costly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for costly
  1. expensive
  2. valuable
Adjective
  • His proficiency, buoyed by his expensive taste and skill in daisy-chaining images together, got his foot in the door of the indie-rap revitalization.
    — Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Without more batteries, Illinois will be even more reliant on dirty, expensive electricity imports from other states and more likely to delay the natural gas power plant closures it’s planned for years to clean the air.
    — John Lippert, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of expensive
Adjective
  • The channel needed to retain its biggest names to keep the channel valuable to cable and satellite TV providers who pay to carry it.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The bull case for the world’s most valuable company and the bull case for the build-out are now essentially the same case, and Morgan Stanley’s North America Insight, led by Nicholas Lentini, makes both.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of valuable

Browse Nearby Words

costless
costly
costs
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Costly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/costly. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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