absurd cost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absurd cost" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a cost that is extremely high or unreasonable. Example: The absurd cost of the new iPhone left many people questioning the company's pricing strategy.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

It will cost carmakers a staggering €45 billion ($67 billion) a year, while reducing CO2 emissions by only 0.0015% a year a ridiculously small percentage with an absurd cost-benefit ratio.My point is that technological evolution must also be viable in relation to the evolution of the market.

The Economist

Each announcement brings some change that's meant to rid T-Mobile of some common wireless industry pain point — things like early termination fees, or the absurd costs of international data usage.

TechCrunch

See the clip below and go to WSJ.com for more absurd costs of living for this rich little tyke.

Huffington Post

She acknowledges straightaway that the "vast majority of women... are struggling to make ends meet," and that external forces (the absurd costs of decent child care in this country, the lack of maternity leave for most women, including single mothers, the "long way we have to go before flextime is accepted in most workplaces") are a big part of the problem most women face.

Huffington Post

How many little girls in our state let their splinters fester rather than face high deductibles, absurd prescription costs, lengthy battles with insurers over what is covered and what isn't?

The New York Times

It seemed unfair at the time, and Dan patiently listened to me complain about the astronomical admission standards, the absurd tuition costs, the possibility of loans, second mortgages, on and on, as patiently as he had once listened to me track my daily calories and the ounce-by-ounce fluctuations in my weight.

The New York Times

Oh well – if you're going to get mobile broadband, you essentially have to deal with the absurd monthly costs.

TechCrunch

Peter Biskind, in his biography of Beatty, does a good job of explaining how and why the movie ended up costing absurd sums of money — which resulted in press that sank the film before its release — but these stories, entertaining and fascinating though they may be, don't account for the actual distinctiveness, the singularity of the results.

The New Yorker

Is it so absurd to hedge costs decades in advance?

Forbes

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the Eurosceptic Business for Britain group, said: "This report imagines a world where every negative and false assumption held by those in favour of remaining in the EU at-all-costs is true, and then gives this absurd doomsday scenario a cost in terms of GDP.

Independent

These Games cost an absurd amount of money, of course, even with the subsidies provided by multinational sponsors whose presence often seemed incongruous and intrusive.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "absurd cost" when you want to emphasize not only the high price of something but also how unreasonable or disproportionate it is to its value or purpose.

Common error

Avoid using "absurd cost" simply to state a high price. The phrase carries a connotation of irrationality or unfairness, so ensure the context supports this additional layer of meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absurd cost" functions primarily as a noun phrase where the adjective "absurd" modifies the noun "cost". This indicates that the cost is not only high, but also unreasonable or illogical. As stated by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and is used to describe a cost that is extremely high or unreasonable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "absurd cost" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe expenses deemed unreasonably high. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it effectively conveys disapproval or disbelief regarding a price. While grammatically correct, its use should be reserved for situations where the cost is not just high but also illogical or unfair. It is most frequently used in News & Media. To ensure the meaning is well conveyed, alternatives such as "exorbitant price" or "outrageous fee" can also be used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exorbitant price

Emphasizes the excessive nature of the price.

unreasonable expense

Highlights the lack of justification for the cost.

outrageous fee

Focuses on the shocking or offensive aspect of the price.

prohibitive price

Indicates the price is so high it prevents purchase.

excessive charge

Highlights that the charge is beyond what is normal or acceptable.

inflated cost

Suggests the cost has been artificially increased.

sky-high price

Uses a more informal term to convey an extremely high price.

unjustifiable expense

Emphasizes the lack of a valid reason for the expense.

ridiculous price tag

Highlights how the cost is worthy of mockery.

preposterous expense

The alternative is a more formal and stronger word.

FAQs

How can I use "absurd cost" in a sentence?

You can use "absurd cost" to describe prices that seem unreasonably high. For example: "The "absurd cost of healthcare" makes it inaccessible for many families."

What phrases are similar to "absurd cost"?

Similar phrases include "exorbitant price", "unreasonable expense", or "outrageous fee". All of them denote a price that's beyond normal limits.

Is it redundant to say "absurd cost", since costs are usually monetary?

While "cost" often implies a monetary value, "absurd" emphasizes the extreme nature of that cost, clarifying the speaker's disbelief or disapproval.

What's the difference between "high cost" and "absurd cost"?

"High cost" simply indicates a significant expense, whereas "absurd cost" suggests the price is so high it's unreasonable or ridiculous.