Look at the thesaurus entry that follows this sentence. Which word is the best replacement for the word “expensive”? The new insurance plan was expensive — far beyond Karl’s ability to pay. Expensive (adjective) requiring a large price. Synonyms: big ticket, extravagant, precious, pricey, spendy, exorbitant, dear, priceless.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The best replacement for the word “expensive” in the sentence “The new insurance plan was expensive — far beyond Karl’s ability to pay” is “exorbitant.”
Here’s why:
The sentence suggests that the insurance plan is not just costly but unreasonably so — “far beyond Karl’s ability to pay.” “Exorbitant” specifically conveys the idea of something being excessively high in price, far beyond what is reasonable or fair, which aligns well with the context of the sentence. It implies that the cost is outrageously high, something that could be burdensome or unaffordable, which is the intended meaning.
Other options, like “big ticket,” might work in different contexts, but it often refers to something expensive in general, not necessarily in a way that exceeds reasonable expectations. “Extravagant” could work, but it often implies lavishness or indulgence, which doesn’t fit the financial context as neatly as “exorbitant.” “Precious” usually refers to something valuable in terms of emotional or sentimental value, which doesn’t fit here. “Pricey” and “spendy” are informal and don’t carry the same weight of unreasonable cost that “exorbitant” does. “Dear” is often used to describe something costly in terms of emotional worth (e.g., “a dear friend”), and “priceless” implies something that has immense value beyond money, which would be an incorrect usage.
Thus, “exorbitant” is the most fitting synonym because it precisely reflects the sense of being unreasonably high in cost.
