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.

Unleaded petrol is 26.7p per litre more expensive that it was three months ago at the start of the conflict, according to the RAC's Fuel Watch.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

Blue Bottle, by comparison, is a higher-end brand associated with stylish cafes and relatively expensive brews.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

Some brokers recommend hybrid LTC insurance, which can sometimes be more expensive than traditional LTC.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 1, 2026

For decades, custom software was so expensive it forced professionals to trade away specific capabilities for the lower price of generic, off-the-shelf tools.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

She wants you to return to Earth, but lots of people seem to think that is impossible because it would be so expensive.

From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga

Vocabulary lists containing expensive

List 1

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