Cost

/ˈkɒst/

Synonyms for "cost" (173 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (35)

Noun(10 words)
pricealgorithmic complexityamountsamounts toaskingburdenburdeningchargecharge valueconsequence
affordamountamount tobereavementbringbring inbudgetbudget itemsburden of expenditurecarrying chargechargechargescome tocome up tocost of livingcost outcost-of-living allowancecost-of-living indexcostsdamage
Show 4 more words
Verb(1 words)

Strong matches (52)

Show 12 more words
fork outgeneral expensesgetgo throughhireincur costsindirect costsinjuryinvestlabor costslay outliabilities
Adjective(2 words)
environmental damage costslinear search algorithm
Verb(2 words)
evaluategive the charge
Preposition(1 words)

Related words (86)

Noun(34 words)
losemonetary valueobligationsopportunityoutgoesoutlayoutturnportuguese valepostagepricesproject priceraterate scienceratesregretsrequirementsaleservice valuespanish interésspending energy
Show 14 more words
suffertaxerthe valueto valuetolltuitionupkeepvaluationvaluevalue highlyvalue onevalue wordwagesworth
loserlosinglosing streaklossmaterial costsmount up toopen the purseoperating costsoperating expenseoutlayoverheadpaypay outpaymentperditionpriceprice tagprime costprivationput out
Show 30 more words
quotationratereplacement costrobberyruinrun intorun throughrun tosacrificeschedulescoresell forset one backshell outsink money inspendsplurgespoliationsquanderstrippingsubscriptionswindle sheettabtaking awaytariffthrow money aroundtotal losstotal up tounit costvalue
Adjective(1 words)
Determiner(1 words)
the costs of

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: price, afford, algorithmic complexity, amount, amount to.
  • Sentence evidence is available for cost, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "cost".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "cost"

Keep "cost" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "cost" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "cost", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "cost" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

5 relation types

More general

19 entries

Showing 16 of 19 words.

More specific

13 entries
chargedamageeconomic lossenergy costexpenselabor costlost opportunitymaterial costpriceproduction costshipping costtime costtime loss

Collocations

10 entries
cost breakdowncost estimatecost of livingcost per unitcost savingsoperating costopportunity costproduction costtotal costvariable cost

Inflections

2 entries

Derivations

3 entries

Sample sentences

29 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

This will cost €30.

Source: tatoeba (1298)

The cost of life increased drastically.

Source: tatoeba (1632)

Are you sure about the cost of that car?

Source: tatoeba (16583)

How much will it cost to get to the airport?

Source: tatoeba (18188)

Showing 4 of 29 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "cost"?

Closest matches include price, afford, algorithmic complexity, amount, amount to.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "cost"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "cost"