much too expensive

USAGE SUMMARY

"much too expensive" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that costs too much, usually compared with something else that is cheaper. For example, "This new laptop is much too expensive compared to what I usually pay."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

But the only places she liked were much too expensive.

The New York Times

"It's much too expensive, much beyond my means, but who cares?" she said.

The New York Times

Sensors are getting ever cheaper, but for many applications they are still much too expensive.

The Economist

"In The Gambia electricity is much too expensive and not available in the required quantity.

The Guardian

It was much too expensive because our house is in a flood-risk area.

The Guardian - Money

It proved a passing fad and never caught on for the ordinary drinker, as the ice was much too expensive.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

But in Sony's opinion (and many other people's), this is much too laborious, expensive and time-consuming.

The New York Times - Tech

However, in practice, MD is much too computationally expensive to explore the thermodynamic limit [14].

Chemistry Central Journal

Eliminating habeas corpus for most state prisoners, as Joseph L. Hoffmann and Nancy J. King urge in "Justice, Too Much and Too Expensive" (Op-Ed, April 17), will destroy thousands of lives.

The New York Times

A patient is intended to be treated on the least specialized level to maintain an effective and relevant treatment without too much or too expensive actions, in order to give all patients the best treatment.

Clinical Epidemiology

Shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan told the BBC the original bill would have given the home secretary too much power, been too expensive and did not have the right checks and balances.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "much too expensive", consider the audience and context. While generally acceptable, more formal situations might benefit from alternatives like "prohibitively expensive".

Common error

While understandable, "much too expensive" can come across as informal in professional or academic writing. Opt for stronger, more precise vocabulary like "unaffordable" or "prohibitively costly" to maintain a formal tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "much too expensive" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It typically describes the cost of something, indicating that it exceeds a reasonable or acceptable price point. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

12%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "much too expensive" is a commonly used and grammatically sound phrase to express that something's cost is excessively high. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While versatile, it leans towards informal usage, suggesting the use of synonyms like "prohibitively expensive" or "unaffordable" in formal writing. Its frequency is high in News & Media contexts. When using "much too expensive", remember to consider your audience and context, opting for more precise language when necessary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

way too expensive

Slightly less formal variant with a similar meaning.

prohibitively expensive

Emphasizes that the price makes something impossible to afford or obtain.

unaffordably priced

Directly states that the cost is beyond one's ability to pay.

exorbitantly priced

Highlights the unreasonableness and excessiveness of the cost.

excessively costly

Formal alternative denoting a higher than necessary price.

overpriced

A common and straightforward term for something costing more than its value.

beyond my means

Indicates that something is outside of one's financial capabilities.

out of reach financially

Expresses that the cost makes something unattainable.

astronomical cost

Uses hyperbole to emphasize the extremely high price.

rip-off

Suggests that the price is unfairly high and exploitative.

FAQs

How can I use "much too expensive" in a sentence?

You can use "much too expensive" to describe an item or service whose cost is beyond what you are willing or able to pay. For example, "The repairs were "much too expensive", so I decided to sell the car."

What's the difference between "much too expensive" and "too expensive"?

"Much too expensive" emphasizes that the cost is significantly higher than expected or acceptable, adding intensity compared to simply saying "too expensive". The phrase "too expensive" simply means that the cost is beyond what one wants to pay.

Is "much too expensive" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "much too expensive" is generally considered informal. In formal writing, consider using stronger synonyms like "prohibitively expensive" or "unaffordable".

What are some alternatives to "much too expensive"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "prohibitively expensive", "overpriced", or "beyond my means" to convey that something costs more than it should or more than you can afford.