overly costly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overly 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 software implementation was deemed overly costly, leading the management to reconsider their options."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

There is some good news about the overly costly, underperforming American health care system.

The New York Times

In recent months, competitors have complained that Microsoft's communications licensing program was overly costly and onerous.

The New York Times

The new proposal would include benchmarks and guidelines to ensure investment projects are not duplicative and are not overly costly.

The New York Times

Bezos said that shipping the ten thousand books back to the company's warehouse would not be overly costly for Amazon.

The New Yorker

But without curtailing the use of unnecessary, overly costly and even dangerous new technologies and surgical procedures, there is little hope of restraining the relentless rise in health care costs.

The New York Times

Page 1 Editorial NEW MEDICAL TREATMENTS Without curtailing the use of unnecessary and overly costly new technologies and surgical procedures, there is little hope of restraining the relentless rise in health care costs.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

This move praised by some received loud protests from others, with industry claiming that the standard was overly tight, impossible to attain, and too costly in a struggling economy.

Huffington Post

It is too costly.

The Economist

Too costly to maintain!

The New Yorker

They argued that the regulation was overly burdensome, costly and difficult to enforce.

Huffington Post

Too often, costly, overly aggressive medical care causes more pain and suffering than if nothing had been done at all.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When evaluating options, quantify the cost exceeding the reasonable threshold to emphasize the point. For instance, "The proposed solution was deemed "overly costly", exceeding the budget by 40%."

Common error

Avoid using redundant intensifiers such as "very overly costly" as "overly" already implies an excessive degree. Sticking to just "overly costly" ensures clarity and conciseness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overly costly" primarily functions as an adjectival modifier. It describes a noun, indicating that the noun's cost is excessive or unreasonable. Examples from Ludwig show its use in describing various nouns, such as "health care system", "licensing program", and "investments". Ludwig AI also confirms that this phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overly costly" is an adjectival phrase used to describe something that is excessively expensive. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability in written English. It appears commonly in contexts such as News & Media and Science, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using the phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects the disproportionate expense relative to the value or benefit. Be mindful of avoiding redundant intensifiers to maintain clarity. Related phrases like "excessively expensive" and "unduly expensive" offer alternative ways to express the same concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Excessively expensive

Focuses on the extreme degree of expense.

Unduly expensive

Highlights the inappropriateness or unjustifiability of the cost.

Prohibitively expensive

Emphasizes that the cost prevents purchase or action.

Unreasonably priced

Indicates the price is not justified by the value or circumstances.

Exorbitantly priced

Suggests an extremely high and unfair price.

Inordinately high

Implies a cost beyond what is normal or acceptable.

Unjustifiably costly

Highlights that there is no good reason for the high price.

Needlessly expensive

Indicates the cost is higher than necessary or warranted.

Ridiculously overpriced

Emphasizes the absurdity of the high cost.

Steeply-priced

Describes the price being high and difficult to afford.

FAQs

What does "overly costly" mean?

The phrase "overly costly" describes something that is excessively expensive, exceeding a reasonable or acceptable cost. It suggests that the price is higher than necessary or justifiable.

What are some alternatives to saying "overly costly"?

You can use alternatives such as "excessively expensive", "unduly expensive", or "prohibitively expensive" to convey a similar meaning.

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

You can use "overly costly" to describe anything that is more expensive than it should be. For example, "The new technology was innovative, but it proved to be "overly costly" to implement on a large scale."

Is "overly expensive" the same as "overly costly"?

While "overly expensive" and "overly costly" are very similar, "costly" often implies a consideration of benefits versus expense. Something "expensive" might just be high-priced, but something "overly costly" suggests that the benefits don't justify the expense.