as in stings
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 gouges
John Seiler, Oc Register, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
In 2017, he was recalled after backing the $5 billion yearly gas tax that still gouges at the pump.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gouges
Verb
-
And that’s the part that stings.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The loss stings, but doesn’t change the outlook of TCU’s chances of contending during March Madness.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In another part of the factory, a worker used a wooden stick, like a tongue compressor at a doctor’s office, to scrape excess bits of explosive out of the grooves inside each shell, ensuring that the base would screw on smoothly.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The album’s more frenetic tracks lean further toward the uncanny, developing chimeric grooves that brim with unresolved tension.—
Maxie Younger,
Pitchfork,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Among the ridges and hollows, the rover found small mineral nodules — bumpy, pea-sized formations that are typically signs of ancient groundwater activity.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Rover drivers must guide it across ridge tops and then down into sandy hollows.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Quality stability balls use thick, durable materials that are less likely to sustain damage from tears or punctures.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Stimulates skin renewal through tiny needle punctures, improving texture and firmness.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Inspired by real stories, Eva Marcille portrays a wife who miraculously cheats death after her husband’s (Tyler Lepley) betrayal in Pushed Off a Plane and Survived airing on February 28.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Blashill wants the Blackhawks to be a fast-pressure team at both ends of the rink, one that attacks vertically but never cheats for offense.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
At under $550, this tablet punches way above its weight!—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
28 Mar. 2026
-
What was the precise number of punches Brown dealt her?—
Pamela Colloff,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gouges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gouges. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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