as in extortion
the exaction of a grossly excessive charge for goods or services
a hotline that consumers may use to report gouging at gasoline stations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in stinging
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gouging
James Grebey, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2025
Craig Shoup, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Critics say the city is gouging ordinary residents and tourists to help balance its budget.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
Even if what Weyland-Yutani has is blood-sucking, eye-gouging, and chest-bursting alien monsters.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
Minadeo jumped on Buck's back and put him in a choke hold while gouging at his eyes, according to the lawsuit.
—Craig Shoup, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Critics say the city is gouging ordinary residents and tourists to help balance its budget.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gouging
Noun
-
Spann had been facing mandatory life in prison after being convicted in November 2021 of directing or participating in four murders as well as a number of robberies and extortions over the course of two decades.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Families are forced to choose between paying extortion fees or losing contact forever.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This interaction damages skin cells and can trigger irritation, redness, stinging or burning.—
Leslie Baumann,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Lapham also talked about the high of winning the AFC Championship in 1981, followed by the stinging loss to San Francisco in Super Bowl 16.—
Beryl Love,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
When yet another affair is discovered (Kate Upton), all three women team up to plot mutual revenge on their cheating, lying, three-timing SOB.—
Caitlin White,
Variety,
2 Sep. 2025
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Byron had his arms wrapped around the company's HR chief, Kristin Cabot, and subsequently faced cheating allegations after they were spotted on the jumbotron.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Florida officials are accusing two publishers of systematically overcharging some school districts for textbooks, including more than $279,000 billed to Osceola County schools.—
Skyler Swisher,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Walmart has agreed to pay millions to settle a consumer protection lawsuit that alleges the company has been overcharging its customers.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gouging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gouging. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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