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
  • Alite faces multiple counts of extortion, corporate misconduct, loansharking and terroristic threats.
    ABC News, ABC News, 22 June 2026
  • Many left Colombia because of insecurity, extortion, violence or political instability.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • For example, a spouse who catches their partner cheating and kills someone in the heat of emotion.
    Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2026
  • Few colleges have developed an intellectual integrity curriculum that treats cheating as a habit and works to counter it over the four years of a student’s college education.
    Austin Sarat, The Conversation, 17 June 2026
Noun
  • But the buildup to America’s first time hosting the World Cup since 1994 has been nonstop controversy, from exorbitant ticket cost and price-gouging for public transportation to our country’s far-right immigration policies scaring away many would-be visitors.
    Greg Cote June 10, Miami Herald, 10 June 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • While the expiration of the enhanced ACA subsidies made insurance more expensive for millions of consumers, experts say other health costs, such as prescription drugs, medical tests and hospital bills, are also squeezing consumers.
    Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 25 June 2026
  • Labor, rent, insurance, utilities, equipment and packaging are all squeezing already-thin margins.
    Melissa Oyler, Charlotte Observer, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • As with the studio version, the track began with Lifeson plucking out a delicate intro on a nylon-string guitar before blasting into monster electric riffs.
    Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 14 June 2026
  • Vogue’s beauty shopping editor Kiana Murden became a devotee after plucking it from the beauty closet and using it religiously.
    Jenny Berg, Vogue, 10 June 2026
Verb
  • Letting go of the idea that success requires hustling at all costs — and replacing it with goals that feel attainable — can help founders shift toward a more sustainable approach, one where progress doesn't come at the cost of their well-being.
    Holly Eve, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • Sweeney’s character, Cassie Howard, ends the final episode still hustling, despite the violent death of her husband Nate (Jacob Elordi), the passing of her high school friend Rue (Zendaya), and the dismantling of her OnlyFans account.
    Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • Former Kansas guard Kevin McCullar wore goggles in the New York Knicks locker room to protect his eyes from stinging during a champagne-spraying celebration after NY’s 94-90 NBA title-clinching victory over San Antonio on June 13 in Texas.
    Gary Bedore June 22, Kansas City Star, 22 June 2026
  • Pets who have an encounter with stinging caterpillars will need a vet visit ASAP.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • America’s favorite sport is not football, or soccer, but screwing over sports fans, which is why FIFA should hold its World Cup in the United States permanently.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2026
  • At least Mercedes is reverting back to screwing things together rather than gluing things in a back-to-basics manufacturing push.
    Joel Feder, The Drive, 11 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fleecing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fleecing. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

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