costly

[ kawst-lee, kost- ]

/ ˈkɔst li, ˈkɒst- /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR costly ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, cost·li·er, cost·li·est.

costing much; expensive; high in price: a costly emerald bracelet; costly medical care.

resulting in great expense: The upkeep of such a large house is costly.

resulting in great detriment: It was a costly mistake because no one ever trusted him again.

of great value; very valuable; sumptuous.

lavish; extravagant.

Origin of costly

First recorded in 1350–1400, costly is from the Middle English word costli. See cost, -ly

SYNONYMS FOR costly

1 dear, high-priced. See expensive.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR costly ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM costly

cost·li·ness, noun o·ver·cost·li·ness, noun o·ver·cost·ly, adjective un·cost·ly, adjective

Words nearby costly

coster, costermansville, costermonger, costing, costive, costly, costmary, costner, costo-, costoaxillary vein, costocervical artery

Example sentences from the Web for costlier

As Bilmes reports, the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are at least 25 percent costlier than previous projections.

How the Wars Are Sinking the Economy |Linda Bilmes |October 27, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
And on Friday, an Iowa ethanol producer said that the spill proves that oil production has become “costlier and riskier.”

The Next Spill Victim: Your Car |Robert Bryce |May 9, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
They only wear their costlier dresses on the occasions of their going to court or when they pay ceremonial visits.

The Human Race |Louis Figuier
Though he rarely bought wine, he often bought a costlier drink—laudanum, for his own drinking.

The Real Shelley, Vol. I (of 2) |John Cordy Jeaffreson

It was not that his dress, although a uniform, was better or costlier than theirs.

The Duke of Stockbridge |Edward Bellamy
The silk we employ for our costlier fabrics is of the kind which we import from Piedmont and the southern provinces of France.

The Arts and Crafts of Older Spain, Volume III (of 3) |Leonard Williams
The increased use of linen paper in place of the costlier parchment helped in the popularization of letters.

History of the English People, Volume III (of 8) |John Richard Green

British Dictionary definitions for costlier

costly

/ (ˈkɒstlɪ) /

adjective -lier or -liest

of great price or value; expensive

entailing great loss or sacrifice a costly victory

splendid; lavish

Derived forms of costly

costliness, noun

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

costly

adjective, cost·li·er, cost·li·est.

Origin of costly

SYNONYMS FOR costly

OTHER WORDS FROM costly

Words nearby costly

Example sentences from the Web for costlier

British Dictionary definitions for costlier

adjective -lier or -liest

Derived forms of costly

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

costly

adjective, cost·li·er, cost·li·est.

Origin of costly

SYNONYMS FOR costly

OTHER WORDS FROM costly

Words nearby costly

Words related to costlier

Example sentences from the Web for costlier

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adjective -lier or -liest

Derived forms of costly

British Dictionary definitions for costlier