costly
/'kɔstli/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Involving a high price or great expense: Used to describe something that requires a large amount of money to buy or maintain.
- Entailing great loss or sacrifice: Used to describe something that results in significant negative consequences, such as loss of life, resources, or effort, beyond just financial cost.
Usage and Examples
Describing High Financial Cost:
- The repairs to the historic building were very costly.
- She avoided buying the costly designer handbag.
Describing Great Loss or Sacrifice:
- The war was a costly victory, with many lives lost.
- His mistake proved to be a costly error for the entire team.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
"Costly" vs. "Expensive": While both mean "high in price," costly can imply a more severe or regrettable expense, often with a sense of loss or burden. "Expensive" is more neutral.
- The legal battle was long and costly. (Implies a draining expense, not just monetary)
- That car is very expensive. (Primarily a statement of high price)
Used to emphasize that the high cost is a significant drawback.
- The project was abandoned due to costly overruns.
Variants and Related Words
- Cost (noun/verb): The price paid or required to acquire, produce, or maintain something.
- Costliness (noun): The quality of being costly.
Synonyms
- Expensive
- Dear (chiefly British)
- Pricey (informal)
- High-priced
Antonyms
- Cheap
- Inexpensive
- Economical
Idioms and Common Phrases
- "Costly mistake": An error that leads to serious negative consequences or significant loss.
- Not backing up his data was a costly mistake.
- "Pay a costly price": To suffer severe consequences for an action.
- He paid a costly price for his arrogance.
Adjective
- having a high price
- costly jewelry
- high-priced merchandise
- much too dear for my pocketbook
- a pricey restaurant
- entailing great loss or sacrifice
- a dearly-won victory