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
Most defense analysts agree that an invasion would be costly, bloody and highly risky for China, Taiwan and any countries that come to Taiwan’s aid, such as the United States or Japan.
—
Eryk Michael Smith, FOXNews.com, 16 Feb. 2026
An unexpected medical emergency or costly diagnosis, such as cancer, can leave people thousands of dollars in debt.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
However, that level of expertise can be costly, with hourly rates running hundreds of dollars, according to some estimates online.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
Getting hold of that history, these days, can be a costly business.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for costly
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Eryk Michael Smith, FOXNews.com, 16 Feb. 2026
An unexpected medical emergency or costly diagnosis, such as cancer, can leave people thousands of dollars in debt.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
However, that level of expertise can be costly, with hourly rates running hundreds of dollars, according to some estimates online.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
Getting hold of that history, these days, can be a costly business.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for costly
Cite this Entry
“Costly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/costly. Accessed 18 Feb. 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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