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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gouge
Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Scheffler pushed his drive into the right fairway bunker on the par-4, could only advance the ball 54 yards into the left rough and gouged his third shot short of the green.
—John Marshall, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2026
Staff Author, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025
The mile-wide, 550-foot-deep gouge people see today was crafted in roughly 10 seconds when the meteorite, traveling at 26,000 mph, crash-landed in what was then a forest of juniper and piñon pines.
—Olivia Rose, AZCentral.com, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gouge
Verb
As much as $49 million in rent may have been illegally collected, with 42% of price-gouging listings concentrated in areas where fire victims relocated.
—Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Scheffler pushed his drive into the right fairway bunker on the par-4, could only advance the ball 54 yards into the left rough and gouged his third shot short of the green.
—John Marshall, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
Why Metal Utensils Are Not Good For Your Nonstick Pan
While micro-scratches aren’t that big of a deal, micro can turn to macro gouges quickly, threatening the integrity of the entire surface.
—Staff Author, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025
The mile-wide, 550-foot-deep gouge people see today was crafted in roughly 10 seconds when the meteorite, traveling at 26,000 mph, crash-landed in what was then a forest of juniper and piñon pines.
—Olivia Rose, AZCentral.com, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gouge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gouge
Verb
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Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates, still stinging from their unexpected Round of 16 Champions Cup elimination midweek, now turn their focus squarely on the MLS season for the next few months until the league breaks for the World Cup.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
-
These scandals stung at the time, but looking back, Cyrus wouldn’t have changed a thing.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Generously pipe filling into hollow of each egg white half (save any leftover filling in the fridge for another use).—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The breeding pair, both six years and 10 months old, constructed the area's first nest in a century high within a hollow of an old-growth redwood in the Redwood Creek drainage.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
AZCentral.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The company reported the battery remained stable with no fire or explosion even when overcharged to 200% of its state of charge, and maintained structural integrity under thermal abuse conditions reaching about 392°F.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The petition asks for an independent review of Duke Energy’s billing system to determine whether customers have been overcharged and calls on the company to issue refunds if discrepancies are found.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Allen won the possession game, but Sam Houston found a groove with counters and seemed to gain momentum as the match continued.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Bakri conveys that immense burden in dribbles of emotion, like a trickle of water wearing down a groove in a rock wall.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Indigenous people have been cheated through laws such as are operated in Nigeria today.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Paul frequently accuses Mortenson of cheating and lying, which he’s openly admitted to — after he gets caught.—
Jodi Guglielmi,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Police said Canut hit the employee and then scratched the customer in the face and bit her hand, leaving a puncture wound.—
Meghan Schiller,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Quality stability balls use thick, durable materials that are less likely to sustain damage from tears or punctures.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Domestic flights will also get surcharged.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Annual watercraft surcharges funding efforts to prevent the spread of invasive species are set to increase in 2026 from $10.60 to anywhere between $14 and $62, according to House Public Information Services.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
28 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Police said at least four people were taken to a hospital with minor stab wounds after the altercation, in the 500 block of West 7th Street.—
Jasmine Mendez
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
-
One person suffered potentially life-threatening stab wounds and is in serious condition.—
Logan Hall,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gouge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gouge. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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