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
Interested consumers now have a range of options, though all are costly, not covered by insurance and carry risks like overdiagnosis or creating a false sense of security.
—
David Oliver, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
Largely ignored by the industry, the Skyactiv engines have progressively improved everything about the internal combustion engine (ICE) and have done so without costly turbocharging or efficiency-killing reburns.
—New Atlas, 23 Feb. 2026
This can be less costly upfront than buying stocks, but can also be riskier, because options expire and a small move in a stock’s price can translate into a big swing in the value of options contracts.
—Alex Veiga, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
New clinics in Broward County will be superfluous, costly and ultimately paid for by patients.
—Arthur E. Palamara, Sun Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for costly
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David Oliver, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
Largely ignored by the industry, the Skyactiv engines have progressively improved everything about the internal combustion engine (ICE) and have done so without costly turbocharging or efficiency-killing reburns.
—New Atlas, 23 Feb. 2026
This can be less costly upfront than buying stocks, but can also be riskier, because options expire and a small move in a stock’s price can translate into a big swing in the value of options contracts.
—Alex Veiga, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
New clinics in Broward County will be superfluous, costly and ultimately paid for by patients.
—Arthur E. Palamara, Sun Sentinel, 22 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 26 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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