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.

It was expensive, but worth every penny — a beautiful, abstract rendering of the film’s themes, displayed in a bewitching graphic style I couldn’t get out of my mind after coveting the poster online.

From Salon • Apr. 17, 2026

As gas prices soared in California last month, Irvine resident Marc Tan realized his Mercedes SUV was getting too expensive to refuel.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

Let’s say your friend buys an expensive designer bag every year, a practice you find wasteful or just silly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

It feels like insurance is getting more expensive by the second, but what if your provider actually paid you back?

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

It’s not like the coyote means to eat your particular prized sheep or attack your expensive composter.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Vocabulary lists containing expensive

List 1

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"The Evolution of a Great Idea"

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