exceptionally costly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exceptionally costly" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means that something is significantly more expensive than usual or expected. Example: "The maintenance of the ancient castle was exceptionally costly due to the delicate restoration work required on the centuries-old paintings and tapestries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Yes, there is excitement associated with manned space ventures, but these programs have been exceptionally costly, often wasteful and, of course, risky.

The New York Times

However, research is quite clear that while we'll need a combination of mitigation and adaptation, relying primarily on adaptation would be exceptionally costly.

The Guardian

From the Daily Mail's James Chapman James Chapman (Mail) (@jameschappers) Tory rebellion over few dozen elected peers now looking exceptionally costly.

The Guardian

This is despite the fact that the record shows that most such accommodations are not exceptionally costly.

HuffPost

Gebhard's conversion and marriage were exceptionally costly, in terms of lives and property, and historians have made no actual estimate of its actual cost, although 19th century historians tend to criticize him for acting rashly.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Not all supererogatory acts of beneficence or benevolent dispositions are exceptionally arduous, costly, or risky.

SEP

It is exceptionally difficult and costly to terminate an employee.

Forbes

Alito explained that before GPS and similar electronic technology, month-long surveillance of an individual's every move would have been exceptionally demanding and costly, requiring a tremendous amount of resources and people.

Wikipedia

"This type of exceptionally invasive toolkit, once a costly boutique capability deployed by intelligence communities and militaries, is now available to all but a handful of governments," wrote the Citizen Lab Researchers.

TechCrunch

Beyond education planning, ExceptionAlly has plans to replace the costly financial and healthcare planning experts who often cost these same parents upwards of $10,000 a year.

TechCrunch

By the end of the eighteenth century, the local cotton was the costliest in the world, with a long and exceptionally silky staple.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "exceptionally costly", ensure the context clearly establishes what the cost is being compared to. This provides a stronger sense of the scale of expense involved.

Common error

Avoid using "exceptionally costly" when the cost is simply high, not significantly above the norm. Reserve it for situations where the expense is truly extraordinary.

Linguistic Context

The primary function of "exceptionally costly" is to act as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by emphasizing the unusually high expense associated with it. Ludwig examples demonstrate this by describing various ventures or items as having remarkably high costs.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "exceptionally costly" is used to describe something significantly more expensive than normal. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and is found in contexts such as News & Media, Wiki and Science. While "exceptionally costly" is a valid and useful phrase, remember to use it when the expense is truly extraordinary and emphasize the magnitude of that expense. Related phrases like ""prohibitively expensive"" or ""exorbitantly expensive"" can provide alternative ways to convey the same meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exorbitantly expensive

Stresses an unreasonable or unfair cost.

prohibitively expensive

Emphasizes cost as a barrier.

overwhelmingly expensive

Highlights the intensity of the high cost.

excessively overpriced

Implies that price is beyond reasonable limits.

astronomically priced

Highlights an extremely high price.

unfeasibly expensive

Emphasizes that cost makes something not possible to be achieved.

incredibly pricey

Uses a more informal term for expensive.

unjustifiably costly

Highlights the unfairness of the high cost.

remarkably dear

Uses a less common, slightly more formal word for expensive.

onerously expensive

Emphasizes the burdensome nature of the cost.

FAQs

How can I use "exceptionally costly" in a sentence?

You can use "exceptionally costly" to describe something that is significantly more expensive than usual or expected. For example, "The restoration of the historic building proved to be "exceptionally costly" due to unforeseen structural damage".

What are some alternatives to "exceptionally costly"?

Some alternatives include "prohibitively expensive", "astronomically priced", or "exorbitantly expensive", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "exceptionally costly" formal or informal?

"Exceptionally costly" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it may be perceived as slightly more formal than phrases like "really expensive" or "incredibly pricey".

What makes something "exceptionally costly" rather than just "costly"?

The term "exceptionally costly" suggests that the expense is significantly higher than what is typical or expected. It implies a cost that stands out as being particularly high.