as in to sting
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
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Recent Examples of gouge
Rachel Ringler, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2025
In 2020, Attorney General Letitia James of New York accused Hillandale Farms of gouging customers with high prices during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic.
—Danielle Kaye, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2025
The villa was used for both housing and agriculture, and items like axes, gouges, hipposandal to protect horse hooves, coins and slag were found throughout the property, according to the release.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gouge
Verb
President Donald Trump campaigned on a vow to reduce egg prices, blaming their rise on his predecessor, but with avian flu continuing to spread — and some producers accused of taking advantage of the crisis to gouge customers — the USDA predicts that prices will rise at least another 20% this year.
—Rachel Ringler, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2025
In 2020, Attorney General Letitia James of New York accused Hillandale Farms of gouging customers with high prices during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic.
—Danielle Kaye, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
Noun
Large dents and gouges can also be difficult to repair.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2025
The villa was used for both housing and agriculture, and items like axes, gouges, hipposandal to protect horse hooves, coins and slag were found throughout the property, according to the release.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gouge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gouge
Verb
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Now Warning To All iPhone Users Google Pixel’s Unbeatable Upgrade—Bad News For Samsung Being stuck at No. 2 behind Lamar likely stings just a little more than usual for Drake.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
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But China is also seeking to build tighter relationships in Asia with nations stung by Trump’s tariffs.—
Josh Boak,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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This was Brontë country—a landscape of bleak moors, steep valleys, and small towns nestled in the hollows.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
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Previously, geophysicists had argued that these transitions represent the difference between volcanic materials above and ejecta from impacts buried below, and a change from porous rock (i.e. filled with cracks and hollows) to solid rock at 12 miles (20 kilometers) deep.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
17 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Red Robin fans jumped at the opportunity to buy a pass granting them bottomless burgers all May, but the promotion encountered some hiccups, including the burger chain's website crashing and some customers being overcharged at checkout.—
Jonathan Limehouse,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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Michael Barker, 47, admitted to working with a business owner starting in November 2019 to overcharge the school district for custodial supplies and split the excess funds, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia said in an April 7 news release.—
Natalie Demaree,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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There’s no shortage of food travel shows, but few have found their groove quite like Stanley Tucci.—
Stephanie Gravalese,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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That's when the movie slips into a groove of envelope-pushing violent comedy.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
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There's a problem these players aren't punished enough for cheating.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
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And right when they're embroiled in the ensuing messy separation, new DNA evidence surfaces in Adam's case, the woman Bob cheated with turns up missing, and just like that, Sarah's back in the spotlight.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Shiffrin won her record-breaking 100th World Cup skiing event earlier this year after making a miraculous return to skiing less than three months after sustaining a puncture to her abdomen during a crash at a competition in Vermont last November.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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There were some deep puncture wounds that healed by themselves.—
Jim Zumbo,
Outdoor Life,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Some restaurants also started slapping an egg surcharge onto their menu items.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
12 Apr. 2025
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Insurers also can surcharge policyholders for 100% of assessments in excess of those amounts.—
Laurence Darmiento,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The most serious stab wounds, authorities said, were in the woman’s right armpit and near her neck and shoulder.—
Kate Linderman,
Kansas City Star,
18 Apr. 2025
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Citing a police affidavit, local KFOX 14 also reported that Victor Sr. was found with a slit throat, severe head injuries and several stab wounds in addition to being disemboweled.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gouge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gouge. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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