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
The central bank has long abused its power in ways that benefit the financial sector at the expense of everyone else.
—
Aaron Klein, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026
The biggest game and biggest win in Indiana history went as well as any of the tens of thousands of IU fans in attendance could have dreamed, at the expense of a blue blood suffering its worst loss since a 42-6 rout against Arkansas in 1998 and worst postseason loss ever.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Politics over science The Human World for Animals (formerly Humane Society of the United States) filed a brief in opposition to the hunt, said attorney Clay Henderson, arguing the decision was swayed by politics at the expense of science.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2026
The pragmatic playbook The playbook for successful candidates is to oppose the deeply unpopular establishment, but not at the expense of practically pursuing solutions to our problems.
—Will Johnson, Time, 1 Jan. 2026
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Aaron Klein, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026
The biggest game and biggest win in Indiana history went as well as any of the tens of thousands of IU fans in attendance could have dreamed, at the expense of a blue blood suffering its worst loss since a 42-6 rout against Arkansas in 1998 and worst postseason loss ever.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Politics over science The Human World for Animals (formerly Humane Society of the United States) filed a brief in opposition to the hunt, said attorney Clay Henderson, arguing the decision was swayed by politics at the expense of science.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2026
The pragmatic playbook The playbook for successful candidates is to oppose the deeply unpopular establishment, but not at the expense of practically pursuing solutions to our problems.
—Will Johnson, Time, 1 Jan. 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 5 Jan. 2026.
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