at the expense of
idiom
: in a way that harms (something or someone)
Malls flourished at the expense of small stores downtown.
He argues that the tax cut will benefit the rich at the expense of the poor.
Examples of at the expense of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Abelias are light feeders and excess nitrogen fertilizer can promote shoot growth at the expense of flowers.
—
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026
But focusing on them at the expense of evergreens and the basic structure of your yard can be a pitfall, say designers, since once flowers are done blooming, you'll be left without any visual interest in the landscape.
—Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026
Economists say spending has largely been driven by higher-income households and has been at the expense of saving as inflation eroded buying power.
—Lucia Mutikani, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Sarah explained that as pre-tractor farmers plowed, the moldboard pushed earth to one side, building up the ridge at the expense of the furrow.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for at the expense of
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Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026
But focusing on them at the expense of evergreens and the basic structure of your yard can be a pitfall, say designers, since once flowers are done blooming, you'll be left without any visual interest in the landscape.
—Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026
Economists say spending has largely been driven by higher-income households and has been at the expense of saving as inflation eroded buying power.
—Lucia Mutikani, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Sarah explained that as pre-tractor farmers plowed, the moldboard pushed earth to one side, building up the ridge at the expense of the furrow.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for at the expense of
Cite this Entry
“At the expense of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20the%20expense%20of. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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