outrageously costly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "outrageously costly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is excessively expensive or beyond what is considered reasonable in terms of cost. Example: "The new smartphone model is outrageously costly, making it difficult for many consumers to afford."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Numerically, we show that it is outrageously costly to reduce stockout risk, especially when this risk is relatively low; the value of risk is more sensitive to the stockout risk level if the demand distribution has a higher volatility.

Omega

The health care battle in the U.S. may seem like just another policy debate to Lena Dunham and other wealthy Americans, but its implications are outrageously costly for middle class and poor chronically ill people.

Huffington Post

It's no secret that Bush's foreign policy blunders permanently damaged Brand America in the eyes of the world: encouraging terrorism, compounding our domestic debt, and engendering our credit downgrade, all by his outrageously costly, deceitfully sold, and wholly unnecessary Iraq detour.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Outrageously nice.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Outrageously good.

The Guardian - Sport

Outrageously enjoyable.

The Guardian - Film

Outrageously talented.

The Guardian

To be outrageously sexy?

The New Yorker

And outrageously decadent.

The New York Times

Occasionally he flatters outrageously.

The Economist

And outrageously funny.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "outrageously costly", ensure the context justifies the strong adjective. It's most effective when emphasizing a surprising or unacceptable level of expense.

Common error

Avoid using "outrageously costly" in contexts where a simple "expensive" or a more moderate term would suffice. Overusing strong adjectives can dilute their impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outrageously costly" functions primarily as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It serves to emphasize the extreme level of expense associated with the noun it modifies. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outrageously costly" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe something excessively expensive. While relatively rare, according to Ludwig, it effectively conveys a sense of disbelief or disapproval. Its use is appropriate in various contexts, particularly in news and science, though careful consideration should be given to the formality of the writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prohibitively expensive

Implies the cost is so high it prevents purchase or participation.

exorbitantly priced

Highlights that the price is much higher than reasonable or expected.

unjustifiably expensive

Suggests the high cost is not warranted or fair.

excessively overpriced

Emphasizes the degree to which the price exceeds its value.

ridiculously expensive

Highlights the absurdity of the high cost.

eye-wateringly expensive

A more emphatic way of saying extremely expensive, suggesting a shock factor.

highly unaffordable

Focuses on the inaccessibility due to the high price.

astronomically priced

Uses an analogy to emphasize the extreme height of the price.

unreasonably expensive

Implies that there's no good reason for the high price.

needlessly expensive

Suggests the high cost could be avoided or reduced.

FAQs

What does "outrageously costly" mean?

It means something is excessively expensive, beyond what is reasonable or justifiable. It implies a sense of shock or disbelief at the high price.

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

Example: "Reducing stockout risk can be "outrageously costly", especially when the risk is already low."

What are some alternatives to "outrageously costly"?

Alternatives include "prohibitively expensive", "exorbitantly priced", or "unjustifiably expensive" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "outrageously costly" a formal or informal expression?

While understandable in most contexts, "outrageously costly" leans towards informal. For formal writing, consider alternatives like "prohibitively expensive" or "excessively priced".