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
Sally Pipes, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Inspect the trunk to make sure there aren’t any major gouges to the bark.
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for gouge
Verb
PBMs actively exploit this lack of price transparency to gouge patients and employers alike.
—Sally Pipes, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Inspect the trunk to make sure there aren’t any major gouges to the bark.
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
Noun
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
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
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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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With her avant-groove sensibilities and refusal to color inside the lines, Lenae represents the fearless spirit fueling R&B’s new era.—
Carl Lamarre,
Billboard,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Make a groove around the edge and sprinkle the salt in it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The release came as the Ciattarelli campaign tried to raise questions about whether Sherrill was involved in a cheating scandal during her time in Annapolis in the early 1990s.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
26 Oct. 2025
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The documents included disciplinary information and reportedly showed that Sherrill was barred from walking at her 1994 graduation after refusing to inform on classmates involved in a cheating scandal.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 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
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Hawks might whip up enthusiasm by waving a bloody shirt or recalling a stab in the back.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
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When an autopsy was conducted on Campbell, it was discovered that seven of the 11 stab wounds penetrated her heart.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gouge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gouge. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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