slightly overpriced

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly overpriced" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing that something costs a bit more than what one would expect or consider reasonable. Example: "While the restaurant has great ambiance, I found the menu items to be slightly overpriced for the portion sizes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"It's one of those modern rental buildings — slightly overpriced, and it has a gym," he said.

The New York Times

Bournemouth have kept Callum Wilson and, although they lost Matt Ritchie to Newcastle, he's been replaced well with the slightly overpriced Jordon Ibe.

The Guardian - Sport

The "infinite Loop" – the street that's home to Apple's headquarters – clearly isn't infinite enough to cope with spiralling global demand for iPads, iPhones, iPods and elegant but slightly overpriced computers.

Independent

Can taxpayers still benefit if assets wind up being slightly overpriced?

Forbes

From this database Rosenberg extracts patterns, and from those patterns a list of stocks that are slightly overpriced, and another list of stocks that are slightly underpriced.

Forbes

I did what any modern man does when he needs to discover if a slightly overpriced sugary snack is self-referentially alluding to its own cultural status: I googled "Pop Tarts" and scrolled down past the official sites for the Wikipedia page.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

And an overriding sense that an obscenely overpriced borough is now, well, slightly more reasonably overpriced.

The New York Times

Slightly marked down designer shoes are still overpriced, and lower-calorie junk food is still junk food.

Huffington Post

Honest food from a specific area of Italy (Liguria and, stretching slightly, Piedmont) made with clarity and not foolishly overpriced.

Independent

We scoff at the stance of our world views back then, feeling wizened and slightly smug as we sip our craft beers in overpriced bars.

Huffington Post

Thus the population of Clark County, the area around Las Vegas, quadrupled between the 1980s and 2008 (before shrinking slightly in 2009), as people from southern California, in particular, fled overpriced houses and moved to Las Vegas.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slightly overpriced" when you want to convey that something is a bit more expensive than it should be, without strongly criticizing the price. It suggests a minor issue rather than a major problem.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly overpriced" in highly formal or professional documents. Opt for alternatives like "somewhat costly" or "a bit expensive" to maintain a more appropriate tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly overpriced" functions as an adjectival modifier, describing a noun by indicating that its price is somewhat higher than what is considered reasonable or expected. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "slightly overpriced" is a useful adjectival modifier that indicates something costs a bit more than one would expect. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically sound. While "slightly overpriced" is not wrong it's better to avoid it in Formal & Business contexts. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media publications. Alternatives include "a bit expensive" and "somewhat costly". When using "slightly overpriced", remember that it conveys a mild degree of disapproval about an item's price, suggesting it's not a major issue but still worth noting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

marginally overpriced

Emphasizes the small degree to which the price exceeds value.

a bit expensive

A more general term indicating a slightly higher cost.

a tad overpriced

Uses "tad" to indicate a small degree of being overpriced.

mildly overpriced

Directly uses "mildly" to convey a low level of being overpriced.

somewhat costly

Formally expresses a price that's higher than desired.

a little too pricey

More colloquial, emphasizing the perceived excess in price.

a shade too expensive

Employs "shade" to suggest a minimal deviation from an expected price.

somewhat dear

An older, slightly more formal way of saying something is expensive.

over budget by a small margin

Focuses on exceeding a predetermined budget.

not a bargain

Indirectly suggests being overpriced by highlighting the absence of a deal.

FAQs

How can I use "slightly overpriced" in a sentence?

You can use "slightly overpriced" to describe something that costs a bit more than expected. For example, "The apartment was nice, but "slightly overpriced" for its size".

What's a less common alternative to "slightly overpriced"?

Alternatives include phrases such as "a tad overpriced" or "marginally overpriced", which convey a similar meaning but may not be as frequently used.

Which is correct, "slightly overpriced" or "a bit overpriced"?

Both "slightly overpriced" and "a bit overpriced" are correct and usable in English. The choice often depends on personal preference and the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use the term "slightly overpriced"?

It's appropriate when you want to express that something's price is a bit high, but you don't want to strongly criticize or complain about the price. It suggests a minor issue.