as in exploiting
to take unfair advantage of
unscrupulous people trying to milk the welfare system for all it's worth
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Recent Examples of milking
Bribing officials, milking national economies, and cozying up to corrupt politicians and dictators have long been essential features of the enterprise.
—
Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Veyron production may have ended, but Bugatti is still milking the idea.
—New Atlas, 6 Feb. 2026
Four plays later, with just over two minutes left in the game, the Seahawks ran a pass play instead of just running the ball and milking the clock.
—Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Cardozo added that all milking operations have ceased, and some beef and non-lactating dairy cattle are still grazing.
—Richard Halstead, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026
Netflix milking the hype around its biggest show in new, previously unannounced ways?
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 5 Jan. 2026
Haul a steaming cup outside where, milking fall weather, the Potholder is welcoming diners on its dog-friendly patio.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2025
There were multiple ways for Texas State to end the game, including milking the clock by running up all three downs and kicking a field goal.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 4 Oct. 2025
But even with Mizzou being able to do what it’s been doing — manhandling the trenches and milking the clock — the results were somewhat spoiled.
—Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2025
Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Veyron production may have ended, but Bugatti is still milking the idea.
—New Atlas, 6 Feb. 2026
Four plays later, with just over two minutes left in the game, the Seahawks ran a pass play instead of just running the ball and milking the clock.
—Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Cardozo added that all milking operations have ceased, and some beef and non-lactating dairy cattle are still grazing.
—Richard Halstead, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026
Netflix milking the hype around its biggest show in new, previously unannounced ways?
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 5 Jan. 2026
Haul a steaming cup outside where, milking fall weather, the Potholder is welcoming diners on its dog-friendly patio.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2025
There were multiple ways for Texas State to end the game, including milking the clock by running up all three downs and kicking a field goal.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 4 Oct. 2025
But even with Mizzou being able to do what it’s been doing — manhandling the trenches and milking the clock — the results were somewhat spoiled.
—Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for milking
Verb
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The film also showed attacks by conservative TV commentator Sean Hannity, who accused parents of exploiting girls, sparking a right-wing media frenzy and even threats to the organization.—
Kamren Curiel,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
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The regime sought to eliminate my father by exploiting divisions that emerged within MOSOP in 1993.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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Ticket holders who travel to matches using public transportation (Tri-Rail, Metrorail, Metrobus, Trolley, or Broward County Transit) will receive a $10 food and beverage credit upon arrival at Nu Stadium.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Investigators said, following the report, the child's mother checked surveillance video from inside the home and saw the night nurse, Cindy Dresser, physically abusing the child.—
Stephanie Ballesteros,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
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Judge Joel Bennathan sentenced Matvei Rumiantsev, a 23-year-old Russian national, to two years in prison after being found guilty of assault for abusing his on-and-off girlfriend.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The group is expected to continue developing its robotics platform while leveraging Google Gemini models and Google Cloud infrastructure, and collaborating closely with Google DeepMind on future robotics initiatives.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Mar. 2026
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Courtesy of Every Cure But Every Cure is leveraging AI to streamline the process.—
Brad Quick,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One of her alternate personalities — the cold and calculating Samantha — joins law enforcement to pursue her father’s killers, while other identities begin to surface with their own motives, seducing and manipulating powerful men as Sylvia’s search for justice veers into vengeance.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
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Adrian Maclean, 52, of Lisbon was arrested twice in connection with an embezzlement scheme police say involved manipulating records in the Hebron Tax Collector’s Office, according to Connecticut State Police.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Milking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/milking. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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