Definitions

expensive

[ik-spen-siv] / ɪkˈspɛn sɪv /

ADJECTIVE

high-priced

Synonyms

STRONGEST

costly extravagant fancy high lavish overpriced pricey upscale valuable

WEAK

an arm and a leg at a premium big-ticket dear excessive exorbitant highway robbery holdup immoderate inordinate invaluable out of sight plush posh pretty penny rich ritzy sky-high steep stiff swank too high uneconomical unreasonable

Antonyms

STRONGEST

economical reasonable unimportant worthless

WEAK

cheap inexpensive low-priced moderate

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Compared with larger spacecraft, these compact satellites are much less expensive to launch.

From Science Daily • Jun. 10, 2026

Nvidia, which operates a highly profitable business making the expensive chips AI runs on, fell as much as 4% in midday trading Tuesday.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

But, if you're looking to reasons backing one team over another, BBC Sport Wales has tried to find some justification for the early alarm calls or the expensive replica shirt purchase.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

The careers most directly helped by AI are those where the technology amplifies expensive expertise, e.g., diagnostic medicine, engineering, scientific research.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

It’s infuriating given that he always has the newest, most expensive limited-edition sought-after sneakers a kid could dream of.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell

Vocabulary lists containing expensive

List 1

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"The Evolution of a Great Idea"

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