costly
adjective
cost·ly
ˈkȯs(t)-lē 
costlier; costliest
2
: made or done at heavy expense or sacrifice
a costly mistake
costliness
noun
Examples of costly in a Sentence
We use less costly materials in our products.
It was too costly to fix her car after the accident, so she decided to buy a new car instead.
They won the game, but their best player was injured, so it was a costly victory.
The decision to wait could be a costly mistake.
Recent Examples on the Web
Young people have been told that going to college is necessary for success, but Gen Zers wanting to skip costly degrees don’t have to sacrifice their careers.
—
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 29 Dec. 2025
The project would be a costly endeavor.
—Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 29 Dec. 2025
Their first two buses turned into costly setbacks.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
Although ultra-fine print nozzles do already exist, they're typically made from costly specialized metal or glass, and are difficult to manufacture.
—New Atlas, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for costly
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Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 29 Dec. 2025
The project would be a costly endeavor.
—Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 29 Dec. 2025
Their first two buses turned into costly setbacks.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
Although ultra-fine print nozzles do already exist, they're typically made from costly specialized metal or glass, and are difficult to manufacture.
—New Atlas, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for costly
Cite this Entry
“Costly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/costly. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
costly
adjective
cost·ly
ˈkȯs(t)-lē
costlier; costliest
1
: of great cost or value
costly furs
2
: gained at great expense or sacrifice
a costly victory
costliness
noun
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