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costly Synonyms
Another word for costly
Choosing another word for costly depends on context, so the 15 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 2 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
• adjective (Context 1)
Costing a great deal of money; high in price or financial expense.
Usage Example
"Replacing the historic building's roof proved to be a expensive undertaking for the municipality."
Strongest
expensive
high-priced
pricey
Strong
dear
exorbitant
extravagant
Weak
lavish
sumptuous
• adjective (Context 2)
Resulting in severe loss, damage, sacrifice, or negative consequences.
Usage Example
"A single damaging error in the final minutes of the match cost the team the championship."
Strong
damaging
ruinous
disastrous
detrimental
catastrophic
devastating
harmful
Opposites of costly
The opposite of costly shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:
inexpensive
cheap
low-priced
low-cost
affordable
harmless
beneficial
advantageous
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Costly. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/costly