fleecing 1 of 2

as in extortion
the exaction of a grossly excessive charge for goods or services the fleecing of the summer tourists seems to be a time-honored tradition on that resort island

Synonyms & Similar Words

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fleecing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of fleece

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of fleecing
Noun
Thanks to its fleecing of New Orleans during last year’s draft, Atlanta gets either the Pelicans’ or the Bucks’ first-round pick — whichever winds up higher. Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 6 May 2026
Verb
The Thunder even improved before the trade deadline by fleecing the Philadelphia 76ers for a strong rookie scorer (Jared McCain) only for a first-round pick (2026) and three second-round picks. Mark Medina, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 The former president of one of the largest homeowners associations in Florida — and her husband — admitted in court on Thursday afternoon to their roles in fleecing $2 million from residents’ monthly maintenance fees. Grethel Aguila, Sun Sentinel, 1 May 2026 The former president of one of the largest homeowners associations in Florida — and her husband — admitted in court on Thursday afternoon to their roles in fleecing $2 million from residents’ monthly maintenance fees. Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026 Before that crackdown, the government had brought fraud charges against dozens of people, many of them Somali Americans, who were accused of fleecing a federal program that was meant to provide food to children. Mark Vancleave, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026 So congratulations on fleecing our state, and the city and the county of Boulder for more than $70 million when the deal could have been closed for $3 million to $5 million! Bob Marshall, Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2026 Shaun Benward, 38, of Mississippi was charged with fleecing employees at the Grand Falls Casino in Larchwood during a December 2018 visit. William Morris, Des Moines Register, 11 Feb. 2026 The district also continues to grapple with the shadow of ex-superintendent Devon Horton, who faces federal charges of fleecing District 65 through a kickback scheme. Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fleecing
Noun
  • Her proposals included implementing technology to track extortion, militarizing borders and increasing the presence of police and military personnel in high-risk areas.
    Franklin Briceño, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
  • Crime, particularly extortion, was the overarching concern for voters.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • Welker asked Trump about his cheating claims.
    Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026
  • Cooper’s girlfriend accused Cooper of cheating and threw his phone against a wall of Cooper’s apartment, according to the affidavit.
    Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 5 June 2026
Noun
  • The ancient Greek sport of pankration employed techniques from the more structured disciplines of boxing and wrestling, with no rules except for prohibitions on eye-gouging and biting.
    Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
  • What Raiff has seen is price-gouging at private airports and terminals.
    Jim Edwards, Fortune, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • Lightweight enough to toss into a carry-on, these slippers still have a durable sole, meaning quick trips to the airplane bathroom or hotel hallway don’t require squeezing back into shoes.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2026
  • Americans are reeling from a cost-of-living crisis that’s squeezing even the biggest earners in the country.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • No plucking figures from the sky.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 5 June 2026
  • The only thing that prevented a shutout was Ross Colton plucking in a rebound off Brent Burns’ sniper off Hart’s chest.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 23 May 2026
Verb
  • Clarkson now is showing his value hustling for 50-50 balls while no longer being a liability on defense — a trait that’s followed him throughout his career.
    Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 3 June 2026
  • The ball trickled behind second, and Hoerner kept going, hustling his way to second.
    Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • If these stinging insects are nesting in your yard, look for the things that might be attracting wasps and learn how to keep them away.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 6 June 2026
  • All that said, the inability of Illinois’ political leaders to get their act together so as to put an alternative on the table in the face of Indiana’s aggressive move to poach the Bears is a stinging indictment of this state’s politicians.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2026
Verb
  • The screwworm gets its name from the maggots' habit of burrowing — or screwing — into a wound, according to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
    CBS News, CBS News, 8 June 2026
  • Put the stopper back in the sink before re-screwing the pivot nut, horizontal rod, and sliding your under sink items back into place.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 8 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fleecing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fleecing. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.

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