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
Glenn Adamson, Artforum, 1 June 2025
If oil companies were gouging, why are prices in neighboring western states like Nevada ($3.85) or Arizona ($3.30) significantly lower?
—Ted Gaines, Oc Register, 28 May 2025
Mike Dojc, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024
Finding Megalodon teeth with distinct serration gouges from another Megalodon’s bite is incredibly rare.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gouge
Verb
Some areas are left unfinished, scraped and gouged from the force of their extraction from the earth.
—Glenn Adamson, Artforum, 1 June 2025
If oil companies were gouging, why are prices in neighboring western states like Nevada ($3.85) or Arizona ($3.30) significantly lower?
—Ted Gaines, Oc Register, 28 May 2025
Noun
Golf’s bomb-and-gouge era, where power hitters eschewed the traditional fairways-and-greens approach and instead clobbered their tee shots as far as possible before hacking a wedge from the rough to set up birdie chances, may be over.
—Mike Dojc, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024
Finding Megalodon teeth with distinct serration gouges from another Megalodon’s bite is incredibly rare.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gouge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gouge
Verb
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What to know: Free to enter; no lifeguards or facilities and the salty water can sting cuts or irritate sensitive skin.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2025
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The Atlanta Braves have won consecutive series since dropping six in a row, though losing Sunday’s series finale to the Rockies despite Grant Holmes’ 15 strikeouts stung.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
16 June 2025
Noun
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Tree Hollows Tree hollows can collect rainwater and provide the perfect place for mosquitoes to breed.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
12 June 2025
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The hollow is about three miles long and less than half as wide.—
Bill Thomas,
Outdoor Life,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The pillars of how these scams work - either by overcharging for casks and/or not actually providing proper ownership over a cask - remains the same.—
Felipe Schrieberg,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Randolph disputed Martin’s request, saying the case was overcharged from the start.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2025
Noun
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In 2024, a middling Red Sox team to start the year found its groove in June, going 21-14 from June 1 through July 14 to close out the first half.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
17 June 2025
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The Valkyries went down four at halftime, but found their groove in the third quarter.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
10 June 2025
Verb
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President Donald Trump's rapid pullback of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has cost Americans at least $18 billion in higher fees and lost compensation for consumers allegedly cheated by major companies, according to an analysis released Tuesday by two organizations.—
Douglas Gillison,
USA Today,
25 June 2025
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But they didn’t get cheated this spring, not with three rousing blasts from the past: Against the Pistons, against the Celtics, against the Pacers.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
23 June 2025
Noun
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Agudelo was transferred to Elmhurst Hospital where she was treated for numerous skull fractures, a puncture wound to her temple and multiple abrasions, according to Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
18 June 2025
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The Zainichi documentary filmmaker Park Soo-nam interviewed Korean hibakusha who subsequently arrived in Japan to receive specialized care—for puncture wounds, missing eyes—forty years after the fact.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
16 June 2025
Verb
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But after removing the waitlist for the Starlink residential plan, the company has increased the demand surcharge to $250, then $500, and $750 last week before cranking it up again to $1,000.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
27 June 2025
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Business Insurers seek to surcharge California homeowners for L.A. County fire costs May 13, 2025 How would the insurers benefit from such a scheme?—
Laurence Darmiento,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2025
Noun
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He was discovered lying face down on his bed covered in a blanket with trauma and what appeared to be a stab wound to his back, police source said.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
17 June 2025
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All four were University of Idaho students, and all four suffered multiple stab wounds from a large knife, according to authorities.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gouge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gouge. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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