having a high price or expense; expensive, involving a lot of effort or loss, causing a lot of damage or harm

costly affair, costly mistake, costly victory

Formal and Informal Expressions of costly

In different contexts, you can replace 'costly' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'expensive, high-priced' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'pricey, spendy' is a commonplace synonym.

costly: Explore its Definition & Usage

costly Definition

1having a high price or expense; expensive
2involving a lot of effort or loss
3causing a lot of damage or harm

Using costly: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "costly" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The repairs to the car were very costly.
Example
The company's decision to expand into new markets was a costly mistake.
Example
The hurricane caused costly damage to the city.

costly Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for costly

Antonyms for costly

Phrases with costly

costly affair
an event or situation that is expensive or involves a lot of money
Example
The wedding was a costly affair, with a lavish reception and expensive decorations.
costly mistake
a decision or action that results in significant financial or other losses
Example
The company's investment in the failing business turned out to be a costly mistake.
costly victory
a victory that is achieved at a great cost, such as in terms of lives, resources, or damage
Example
The battle was a costly victory for the army, with many casualties and extensive damage to the city.

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Summary: costly in Brief

The term 'costly' [ˈkɒstli] refers to something that is expensive, involves a lot of effort or loss, or causes a lot of damage or harm. It can describe anything from a high-priced item to a mistake that results in significant losses. Examples include 'The repairs to the car were very costly.' and 'The hurricane caused costly damage to the city.' Phrases like 'costly affair' and 'costly victory' extend the term's usage.