gouging 1 of 2

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

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gouging

2 of 2

verb

present participle of gouge
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

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gouging
Noun
  • Baldoni then filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively and Reynolds, claiming defamation and extortion.
    Benjamin VanHoose, People.com, 14 May 2025
  • The twin sister of Captain Hastings wife, Dulcie, has been kidnapped — and Hercule Poirot rightly expects not only extortion to follow, but murder.
    Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Lars Baron/Getty Images/Getty Images Europe The ski jumping world remains embroiled in controversy stemming from a cheating scandal that was announced this week, initially involving a few members of the Norwegian team.
    Manuela López Restrepo, NPR, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Netflix’s first season of Temptation Island was filled with cheating men, frustrated women, and lots of flashing red lights as folks repeatedly hooked up in an outdoor tent.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 13 Mar. 2025
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.

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“Gouging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gouging. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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