at any cost

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.

Perhaps people who use it are underprepared for confrontation and want to avoid disagreement at any cost.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

After their failure, Tessa is reprogrammed to be cold and callous, trained to finish the job at any cost, even if it means destroying the love between her and Thia.

From Salon • Jan. 24, 2026

North Korea said on Sunday that Japan's nuclear ambitions "must be prevented at any cost", after a Tokyo official reportedly suggested the country should possess atomic weapons.

From Barron's • Dec. 21, 2025

If anyone’s L.A. dream could crumble at any moment, that meant you had to defend it at any cost — and especially at the expense of everyone else.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 10, 2025

Every nation seems to have its set of forbidden possibilities, which its citizenry and adherents must not at any cost be permitted to think seriously about.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan