I paid the bill out of my expense account.
Source: tatoeba (21109)
Expense
/ɪkˈspɛns/
Synonyms for "expense" (110 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (22)
Strong matches (33)
Noun(9 words)
debitdecrementdenialdenudationdeprivationdespoilmentdestructiondetrimentdirect costsdisbursalsdisbursementdispossessiondistributed costsdivestmentexpenditureexpense accountexpensesfeefigureforfeit
Show 2 more words
forfeituregeneral expenses
Adjective(2 words)
economic costenvironmental damage costs
Related words (55)
Noun(13 words)
impositionincurrencelog as expenseoutgooutgoesoutlayrecord as expensereimbursable costreimbursable expensereimbursement itemspendsplurgeupkeep
Adjective(1 words)
Determiner(2 words)
the coststhe costs of
Verb(2 words)
write downwrite off
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: amortized, amount, bereavement, budget, budget items.
- Sentence evidence is available for expense, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, opengloss, wordnet, 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 "expense".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "expense"
Keep "expense" 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 "expense" 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 "expense", 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 "expense" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
12 entriescostcost categorydepreciatedetrimentexpenditurefinancial actionfinancial entryhurtmonetary costoutgooutlayspending
More specific
12 entriesadministrative expensecapital expensecost allocationcost of goods soldexpense recognitionimmediate expensinginternational travel expenseoffice supplies expenseoperating expenseper diem expenseselling expensetravel expense
Collocations
8 entriescapital expensecost allocationexpense accountexpense policyexpense recognitionexpense reportimmediate expensingoperating expense
Inflections
4 entriesDerivations
3 entriesTranslations
20 translations across 12 languages.
Ancient Greek
1 entries- δαπάνη noun (that which is expended, laid out, or consumed)
Bulgarian
2 entries- ра́зход noun (that which is expended, laid out, or consumed)
- разно́ски noun (that which is expended, laid out, or consumed)
Czech
3 entries- vydání noun (that which is expended, laid out, or consumed)
- výdaj noun (that which is expended, laid out, or consumed)
- útrata noun (that which is expended, laid out, or consumed)
Finnish
2 entries- kulu noun (that which is expended, laid out, or consumed)
- kustannus noun (that which is expended, laid out, or consumed)
Hindi
2 entries- उपभुक्त noun (that which is expended, laid out, or consumed)
- प्रयुक्त noun (that which is expended, laid out, or consumed)
Ingrian
2 entries- kulu noun (that which is expended, laid out, or consumed)
- mänö noun (that which is expended, laid out, or consumed)
Irish
1 entries- costas noun (that which is expended, laid out, or consumed)
Latin
2 entries- impendium noun (that which is expended, laid out, or consumed)
- impensa noun (that which is expended, laid out, or consumed)
Ottoman Turkish
1 entries- خرج noun (that which is expended, laid out, or consumed)
Romanian
1 entries- seamă noun (that which is expended, laid out, or consumed)
Russian
1 entries- расхо́д noun (that which is expended, laid out, or consumed)
Swedish
2 entries- bekostnad noun (that which is expended, laid out, or consumed)
- utgift noun (that which is expended, laid out, or consumed)
Sample sentences
18 total sentences available.
As regards the expense involved, it is of no concern to me.
Source: tatoeba (42884)
The expense is chargeable on him.
Source: tatoeba (44368)
The ship was built at considerable expense.
Source: tatoeba (45704)
Showing 4 of 18 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "expense"?
Closest matches include amortized, amount, bereavement, budget, budget items.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "expense"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.