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
-
This stings even more on the heels of Hyatt’s award chart overhaul, which now has five price tiers instead of three.—
Jason Stauffer,
CNBC,
10 June 2026
-
The loss stings even more because Tiafoe is comfortable in these moments.—
Dan Zaksheske,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Todd’s upcoming album builds upon the grooves of his previous work but feels more honest than past releases.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
The invention that Edison brought into the offices of Scientific American also used sound vibrations to make a needle vibrate—in his case, by digging grooves into a strip of tinfoil or paper that was embossed with wax.—
Ron Cowen,
Scientific American,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
An electronic safety system monitors each cell during operations, avoiding both under- and overcharges.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
22 Aug. 2017
Noun
-
Also, check for hollows in trunks that may mean the interior portion is rotting.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
-
An easy way to do this is by applying bronzer to the temples, the hollows of your cheeks, and under the jaw, as well as a bit on the bridge of your nose.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Though Lesnar rarely cheats to win, Femi isn’t going to lose clean.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
Five average players committed to protecting the middle of the ice are more effective than four great ones and one who cheats for offence.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Photos of the damage included in the report show three punctures, one about 46 inches long, on the left lower aft fuselage.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
-
In addition to the two smaller punctures, there were also dents and creases.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
For a sparsely populated state with only four votes in the Electoral College, Maine punches above its weight politically, which is reflected in the $300 million spent already by the campaigns and dark money Political Action Committees.—
David Millward,
The Washington Examiner,
7 June 2026
-
After punches were thrown, both players were suspended seven games.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gouges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gouges. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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