as in to sting
to charge (someone) too much for goods or services
since I had forgotten the sunscreen, I was forced to buy it from the concession stand at the beach—where they gouged me for it
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Recent Examples of gouge
Walden Green, Pitchfork, 19 Sep. 2025
Successive hurricanes had gouged a hole in the Sunshine State, leaving several private carriers insolvent — and leaving hundreds of thousands of their customers with no choice but Citizens.
—Mario Ariza, ProPublica, 15 Sep. 2025
David Matthews, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2025
PBMs actively exploit this lack of price transparency to gouge patients and employers alike.
—Sally Pipes, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gouge
Verb
Predatory resellers - including Live Nation itself - should no longer be allowed to gouge and deceive fans under the guise of access to live music.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 19 Sep. 2025
Successive hurricanes had gouged a hole in the Sunshine State, leaving several private carriers insolvent — and leaving hundreds of thousands of their customers with no choice but Citizens.
—Mario Ariza, ProPublica, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
Others had gouge marks consistent with being struck with a cable or a chain.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2025
PBMs actively exploit this lack of price transparency to gouge patients and employers alike.
—Sally Pipes, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gouge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gouge
Verb
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While basic first aid can often ease the pain of a bee sting, according to the Mayo Clinic, those who are stung more than a dozen times can experience a more severe reaction, which includes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and lightheadedness.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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Considering that one cocktail could cost one hour of some employees’ wages, the removal of that free drink benefit stung even more, Quimby and Reber told Deadline.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Continue reading … AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ – Test yourself on haunted hollows and game-day glory.—
,
FOXNews.com,
30 Oct. 2025
-
On the back porch, the rolling green of the hollow holds the B&B as if in the palm of its meadowy hand.—
Sarah Henry,
Louisville Courier Journal,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Thermal runaway, or self-heating, can occur without warning in lithium batteries as a result of various factors, including if the battery is damaged, overheated, exposed to water, overcharged or improperly packed, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
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That same year, millions of plaintiffs filed an antitrust class action lawsuit seeking over $1 billion in damages that alleged Sutter Health overcharged customers and companies for health care bills and discouraged clients from using other lower-cost services.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
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From there, his sound became one of the most sought-after in the industry, shaping hits that blurred the lines between grit and groove.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Supernormal Andrew McConnell’s famed Melbourne institution has found its groove on the Brisbane River.—
Alli Forde,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Blashill wants the Blackhawks to be a fast-pressure team at both ends of the rink, one that attacks vertically but never cheats for offense.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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When athletes are caught cheating, a number of familiar examples are often brought up.—
David Hill,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Henry had separated and broken ribs on his right side, blood on the left side of his rib cage, and light puncture marks on his stomach, as well as severe internal bleeding, according to a police report.—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC news,
3 Oct. 2025
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Henry, 5, suffered internal bleeding and puncture wounds, court documents allege, WSB-TV 2 reports.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But last month, SpaceX raised the demand surcharge to $500, then $750 before finally escalating it to an eye-popping $1,000.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
21 July 2025
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That surcharge alone erodes a meaningful slice of Qatar’s margin advantage over Henry-Hub-linked U.S. cargoes and is already pencilled into 2026 LNG tender models.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
His head was swollen to twice its size, he’d been badly beaten and bruised, and there were two holes in his chest that could have been bullet or stab wounds.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Schroeder suffered multiple stab wounds and lacerations and died four days later, police said.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gouge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gouge. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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