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 Madison Square Garden rally was a classic mobilization effort, reminding Trump voters once again that Trump is on their side and no one else’s, at the cost of 48 hours of negative press.
—
Matthew Continetti, National Review, 2 Nov. 2024
Decentralized systems offer users more control over their data but often at the cost of slower performance and higher energy use.
—Jiahao Sun, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024
The Cowboys beat the Giants 20-15 but at the cost of losing a key member of their defensive team.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
Fame gives you things like fancy apartments and time with hotties but at the cost of always being watched and compelled to watch others.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for at the cost of 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Matthew Continetti, National Review, 2 Nov. 2024
Decentralized systems offer users more control over their data but often at the cost of slower performance and higher energy use.
—Jiahao Sun, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024
The Cowboys beat the Giants 20-15 but at the cost of losing a key member of their defensive team.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
Fame gives you things like fancy apartments and time with hotties but at the cost of always being watched and compelled to watch others.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for at the cost of
Dictionary Entries Near 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 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share