costly

costly
[[t]kɒ̱stli, AM kɔ͟ːst-[/t]]
costlier, costliest
1) ADJ-GRADED If you say that something is costly, you mean that it costs a lot of money, often more than you would want to pay.

Having professionally made curtains can be costly, so why not make your own?

Syn:
Ant:
2) ADJ-GRADED If you describe someone's action or mistake as costly, you mean that it results in a serious disadvantage for them, for example the loss of a large amount of money or the loss of their reputation.

Psychometric tests can save organizations from grim and costly mistakes...

This sort of scandal in international banking has been politically costly.


English dictionary. 2008.

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  • costly — adj Costly, expensive, dear, valuable, precious, invaluable, priceless mean having a high value or valuation, especially in terms of money. Costly, expensive, dear refer to the expenditure or sacrifice involved in obtaining or procuring a thing.… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • costly — [kôst′lē, käst′lē] adj. costlier, costliest [ME: see COST & LY1] 1. a) costing much; expensive; dear b) at the cost of great effort, damage, sacrifice, etc. [a costly victory] …   English World dictionary

  • Costly — is a Honduran surname, and may refer to: Anthony Costly (born 1954), Honduran footballer Carlo Costly (born 1982), Honduran footballer This page or section lists people with the surname Costly. If an in …   Wikipedia

  • costly — UK US /ˈkɒstli/ adjective ► costing a lot of money: »costly repairs »The delays in the schedule proved very costly. → See Note EXPENSIVE(Cf. ↑expensive) ► harmful, and involving a lot of loss or damage: »Their failure to cons …   Financial and business terms

  • Costly — Cost ly (k?st l?; 115), a. [From Cost expense.] [1913 Webster] 1. Of great cost; expensive; dear. [1913 Webster] He had fitted up his palace in the most costly and sumptuous style, for the accomodation of the princess. Prescott. [1913 Webster] 2 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • costly — [adj1] expensive an arm and leg*, cher*, dear, excessive, executive, exorbitant, extortionate, extravagant, fancy, high, highly priced, high priced, inordinate, precious, premium, pricey, steep, stiff*, top, valuable; concept 334 Ant. cheap,… …   New thesaurus

  • costly — ► ADJECTIVE (costier, costiest) 1) expensive. 2) causing suffering, loss, or disadvantage: a costly mistake. DERIVATIVES costliness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • costly — index harmful, inestimable, invaluable, priceless, sterling, valuable Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • costly — late 14c., from COST (Cf. cost) + LY (Cf. ly) (1). Earlier formation with the same sense were costful (mid 13c.), costious (mid 14c.) …   Etymology dictionary

  • costly */ — UK [ˈkɒs(t)lɪ] / US [ˈkɔs(t)lɪ] adjective Word forms costly : adjective costly comparative costlier superlative costliest formal 1) costing a lot of money They have been investing in costly new equipment. a costly business/process/exercise:… …   English dictionary

  • costly — adj. VERBS ▪ be, become, prove ADVERB ▪ extremely, fairly, very, etc. ▪ enormously …   Collocations dictionary

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