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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gouging
Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
Even if what Weyland-Yutani has is blood-sucking, eye-gouging, and chest-bursting alien monsters.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2025
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Dec. 2025
Ahead of its biggest ever World Cup tournament, FIFA has been accused of greed on an industrial scale, gouging the pockets of supporters who are the lifeblood of the game.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 17 Dec. 2025
At least the climactic pandemonium has some of that old REC intensity; Plaza dynamically orchestrates the violence, dazzling the eyes of his audience one minute, gouging the eyes of his characters the next.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
There’s no question Newsom — who had spent months excoriating refiners for gouging consumers on gasoline prices, even calling a special legislative session to impose new regulations — changed his tune after two refineries announced plans to shut down.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
Time for the city to stop gouging us and start being more responsible with taxpayer money.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Sep. 2025
The residency’s first nine shows were only available to Puerto Rico residents, and when tickets went on sale in January, the prices for all shows ranged between $35 and $250, a rarity in an era of concert price-gouging and Ticketmaster wars.
—Maya Rosenberg, NBC news, 13 Sep. 2025
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
Noun
The only tactics barred were eye gouging, groin strikes, and biting, none of which was especially policed.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
Even if what Weyland-Yutani has is blood-sucking, eye-gouging, and chest-bursting alien monsters.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
Add Tree Guards Although rabbits will sometimes nibble on tree bark in winter, deer are more likely to do serious damage to young trees, either by stripping tree bark away with their teeth or gouging holes in the bark with their antlers.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Dec. 2025
Ahead of its biggest ever World Cup tournament, FIFA has been accused of greed on an industrial scale, gouging the pockets of supporters who are the lifeblood of the game.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 17 Dec. 2025
At least the climactic pandemonium has some of that old REC intensity; Plaza dynamically orchestrates the violence, dazzling the eyes of his audience one minute, gouging the eyes of his characters the next.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
There’s no question Newsom — who had spent months excoriating refiners for gouging consumers on gasoline prices, even calling a special legislative session to impose new regulations — changed his tune after two refineries announced plans to shut down.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
Time for the city to stop gouging us and start being more responsible with taxpayer money.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Sep. 2025
The residency’s first nine shows were only available to Puerto Rico residents, and when tickets went on sale in January, the prices for all shows ranged between $35 and $250, a rarity in an era of concert price-gouging and Ticketmaster wars.
—Maya Rosenberg, NBC news, 13 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gouging
Noun
-
These vulnerabilities contributed to notorious scandals, including the Gun Trace Task Force corruption case, in which officers engaged in robbery, extortion and falsifying evidence.—
Karl W. Bickel,
Baltimore Sun,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Coveware, a company that helps clients respond to cyber extortion incidents, reports the average ransom payment made by victims of cyberattacks has been falling.—
Suzanne King,
Kansas City Star,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But a lackluster performance during that fall's vice presidential debate did little to help the party avoid stinging losses in November 2024.—
Hunter Woodall,
CBS News,
5 Jan. 2026
-
The 31-year-old was among dozens who braved stinging brain freeze to win an exclusive Snow King foldable bag.—
Theodora Yu,
Fortune,
3 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Instead, tax enforcement has been starved, and large-scale cheating has proliferated.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The process seems to be amicable; there was no cheating or abuse.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Best Care was previously accused in civil court of fraudulently billing or overcharging the federal government for healthcare services that were never actually performed.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
1 Jan. 2026
-
Last year, McDonald's sparked outrage after customers began sharing their experiences of being charged nearly $20 for a single Big Mac meal combo - which many accusing the fast-food brand, typically associated with affordable food, of overcharging.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Merchants would gain surcharging flexibility and those that accept one of a network’s credit cards would no longer have to accept all of them.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gouging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gouging. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share