Describing something as “expensive” can often feel a bit straightforward or plain. Whether you’re writing, speaking, or trying to articulate a subtler nuance about cost, there are numerous ways to express the concept of being high-priced. In this blog post, we explore 20 different expressions you can use to describe something as expensive, each with a brief meaning and a concise example to help you incorporate them into your everyday vocabulary.
Ways To Say Expensive
1. Costly
Meaning: High in price, valuable.
Example: That watch is quite costly.
2. High-priced
Meaning: Very expensive.
Example: It’s a high-priced area to live in.
3. Pricey
Meaning: Informally expensive.
Example: That restaurant is pretty pricey.
4. Overpriced
Meaning: More expensive than it should be.
Example: That handbag is overpriced.
5. Steep
Meaning: Excessively high in cost.
Example: The rent here is steep.
6. Lavish
Meaning: Luxuriously expensive.
Example: They went on a lavish vacation.
7. Exorbitant
Meaning: Unreasonably high in price.
Example: The fees are exorbitant.
8. Premium
Meaning: High quality and, hence, high priced.
Example: It’s premium real estate.
9. Upscale
Meaning: Associated with high cost and sophistication.
Example: It’s an upscale neighborhood.
10. Priced at a premium
Meaning: Indicating something is expensive.
Example: This brand is priced at a premium.
11. Opulent
Meaning: Richly and often expensively decorated.
Example: The hotel was opulent.
12. Princely
Meaning: Extremely high-priced, fit for royalty.
Example: The sum was a princely amount.
13. Splurge
Meaning: To spend a lot on something.
Example: I decided to splurge on a new car.
14. Valuable
Meaning: Worth a lot of money.
Example: That painting is quite valuable.
15. Luxurious
Meaning: Expensively comfortable.
Example: They stayed at a luxurious resort.
16. High-end
Meaning: Denoting high-quality and high cost.
Example: She buys high-end makeup.
17. Gilded
Meaning: Wealthy, luxurious.
Example: The gilded interior screamed luxury.
18. Top dollar
Meaning: Highest end of a price range.
Example: He paid top dollar for that apartment.
19. Platinum
Meaning: Exceptionally high quality, hence expensive.
Example: She uses a platinum credit card.
20. Cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: Very expensive, implying a sacrifice.
Example: That surgery cost an arm and a leg.
