COSTLY Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

costly

adjective

ˈkȯs(t)-lē

Definition of costly

as in expensive

commanding a large price running is one sport that does not require a lot of costly equipment

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 costly But the bridges won’t make it to that date without continual — and costly — interventions, according to the highway district, especially if traffic intensifies. — Mark Dee july 3, Idaho Statesman, 3 July 2026 The crisis traces in part to JTBC’s costly, unsuccessful bet on strong viewership for the Milan Winter Olympics earlier this year, layered on top of a slumping advertising business. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 July 2026 Under the order, X is subjected to costly independent audits, and the FTC has authority to demand documents to ensure compliance with data privacy laws without taking additional legal action. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026 Regalado said Tower 101, which has components built in 1987 and 2001, and 1 E Broward, built in 1983, could be suitable City Hall locations, but not without costly renovations. — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for costly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for costly

Adjective

But for Cubans like himself, who don’t have family in the United States, the service is so expensive as to be out of reach.

— Rick Jervis, USA Today, 1 July 2026
But after a series of expensive hurricanes — Katrina, Sandy, Harvey — the National Flood Insurance Program went into debt.

— Brian New, CBS News, 1 July 2026

Definition of expensive

Adjective

As artificial intelligence transforms the job market and rising living costs squeeze family budgets, the University of California system is making the case that its degrees remain valuable investments.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
Those types of players are still enormously valuable because many of their skills are always valuable.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of valuable

Browse Nearby Words

costless

costly

costs

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Costly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/costly. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of costly

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on costly

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

gambol

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

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

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes