at the cost of
idiom
: by giving up or hurting (something else)
She completed the project on time but at the cost of her health.
Examples of at the cost of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The future of work might demand AI literacy, but not at the cost of future-proof skills like critical thinking and communication.
—
Sophia Romee, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025
During this year’s offensive, Russia seized just one percent of Ukrainian territory at the cost of more than 200,000 dead and wounded.
—Thomas Graham, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2025
For security reasons, FBI directors are required to travel with the bureau’s personal jet and must reimburse the government at the cost of a commercial flight.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 2 Dec. 2025
The Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Medicaid suffer from similar flaws as top-down health reform initiatives that expand access at the cost of our system’s long-term viability.
—Kim-Lien Nguyen, Boston Herald, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for at the cost of
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Sophia Romee, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025
During this year’s offensive, Russia seized just one percent of Ukrainian territory at the cost of more than 200,000 dead and wounded.
—Thomas Graham, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2025
For security reasons, FBI directors are required to travel with the bureau’s personal jet and must reimburse the government at the cost of a commercial flight.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 2 Dec. 2025
The Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Medicaid suffer from similar flaws as top-down health reform initiatives that expand access at the cost of our system’s long-term viability.
—Kim-Lien Nguyen, Boston Herald, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for at the cost of
Cite this Entry
“At the cost of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20the%20cost%20of. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.
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