exorbitant costs

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exorbitant costs" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe prices or expenses that are unreasonably high or excessive. Example: "The exorbitant costs of living in the city have forced many families to seek more affordable housing options."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

QUESTION from Gregg: Do you think films like James Cameron's justify these exorbitant costs?

The New Yorker

There are many serious issues facing the Olympic committee, including public unease over the exorbitant costs of the Games.

The New York Times - Sports

Few patients can afford to pay the exorbitant costs — as high as $88,000 a year — out of pocket.

The New York Times

Even the exorbitant costs of unification, which brought about a tax increase, seemed to cause few changes in western Germany.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Not only would that equalize everyone's vote; it would also help reduce the exorbitant costs of state-by-state campaigning.

The New York Times

Advocacy groups say banks are making a fortune because consumers are unaware of the exorbitant costs of overdraft services.

The New York Times

Implementing such recommendations would escalate the already exorbitant costs, locking Nasa for still more years into dependence on the shuttle.

The Guardian

Most schools are trying to employ more people with practical experience.One problem is that these changes add to the already exorbitant costs of MBAs.

The Economist

With the exorbitant costs of modern, large-scale, scientific research shifted from industry to government, previously impractical "big science" experiments, such as the Manhattan Project, became feasible.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Economists have also pointed out that other factors, such as high administrative costs and expensive technology, play a greater role in exorbitant costs than overuse.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The sometimes-exorbitant costs of meeting disclosure have also fueled the study and technological evolution of corporate blogs, wikis, and social media releases.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "exorbitant costs" when you want to emphasize the unfair or unreasonable nature of the expense, not just its high value.

Common error

Avoid using "exorbitant costs" when "high costs" would suffice. "Exorbitant" implies an unreasonable or unfair level of expense, not just a significant one. Make sure the context supports the implication of unfairness or excessiveness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exorbitant costs" functions as a noun phrase where "exorbitant" modifies "costs". It serves to describe expenses that are unreasonably high. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in various contexts like healthcare, education, and business, consistently highlighting the excessive nature of the expenses.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

16%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Unknown

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "exorbitant costs" is a phrase used to describe expenses that are unreasonably high. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and frequently used across various domains, especially in news and media. The term carries a negative connotation, implying unfairness or excessiveness. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that the context supports this implication, differentiating it from simply "high costs". Alternatives such as "excessive expenses" or "inflated prices" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessive expenses

Replaces 'costs' with 'expenses' and 'exorbitant' with 'excessive', focusing on the excessiveness of the financial outlay.

unreasonable charges

Substitutes 'costs' with 'charges' and 'exorbitant' with 'unreasonable', emphasizing the lack of justification for the high prices.

inflated prices

Replaces 'costs' with 'prices' and 'exorbitant' with 'inflated', suggesting an artificial increase in the price beyond its true value.

sky-high expenses

Uses a more metaphorical expression ('sky-high') to describe the extreme level of the expenses.

prohibitive costs

Emphasizes the preventing or deterring effect of the high costs, implying they are so high as to be unaffordable or discourage purchase.

astronomical prices

Uses another metaphorical term ('astronomical') to highlight the extremely high nature of the prices.

outrageous fees

Replaces 'costs' with 'fees' and 'exorbitant' with 'outrageous', suggesting the prices are shocking or unacceptable.

unjustifiable expenses

Highlights the lack of a valid reason or explanation for the high expenses.

crippling costs

Emphasizes the severely damaging or restrictive effect of the costs, suggesting they can cause significant hardship.

exaggerated costs

Replaces 'exorbitant' with 'exaggerated', suggesting that the costs are represented as being higher than they actually are.

FAQs

How can I use "exorbitant costs" in a sentence?

You can use "exorbitant costs" to describe expenses that are excessively high. For example: "The "exorbitant costs of healthcare" are a major concern for many families."

What's a good alternative to "exorbitant costs"?

Alternatives include "excessive expenses", "unreasonable charges", or "inflated prices", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "exorbitant cost" instead of "exorbitant costs"?

While "exorbitant cost" can be grammatically correct when referring to a single item or expense, "exorbitant costs" is more commonly used to refer to a general issue or a collection of high expenses. Consider the context to determine the appropriate form.

What makes costs "exorbitant" as opposed to simply "expensive"?

"Exorbitant" implies that the costs are not only high but also unreasonably or unfairly so. It suggests a level of expense that is excessive or beyond what is justifiable, whereas "expensive" simply indicates a high price.