as in extortion
the exaction of a grossly excessive charge for goods or services
the fleecing of the summer tourists seems to be a time-honored tradition on that resort island
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in cheating
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
swindlers who use the telephone to fleece senior citizens out of their savings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fleecing
Tyler Estep,
AJC.com,
6 May 2026
Mark Medina,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
The former president of one of the largest homeowners associations in Florida — and her husband — admitted in court on Thursday afternoon to their roles in fleecing $2 million from residents’ monthly maintenance fees.
—
Grethel Aguila,
Sun Sentinel,
1 May 2026
The former president of one of the largest homeowners associations in Florida — and her husband — admitted in court on Thursday afternoon to their roles in fleecing $2 million from residents’ monthly maintenance fees.
—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Before that crackdown, the government had brought fraud charges against dozens of people, many of them Somali Americans, who were accused of fleecing a federal program that was meant to provide food to children.
—
Mark Vancleave,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
So congratulations on fleecing our state, and the city and the county of Boulder for more than $70 million when the deal could have been closed for $3 million to $5 million!
—
Bob Marshall,
Denver Post,
8 Mar. 2026
Shaun Benward, 38, of Mississippi was charged with fleecing employees at the Grand Falls Casino in Larchwood during a December 2018 visit.
—
William Morris,
Des Moines Register,
11 Feb. 2026
The district also continues to grapple with the shadow of ex-superintendent Devon Horton, who faces federal charges of fleecing District 65 through a kickback scheme.
—
Shun Graves,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
Thanks to its fleecing of New Orleans during last year’s draft, Atlanta gets either the Pelicans’ or the Bucks’ first-round pick — whichever winds up higher.
—
Tyler Estep,
AJC.com,
6 May 2026
Verb
The Thunder even improved before the trade deadline by fleecing the Philadelphia 76ers for a strong rookie scorer (Jared McCain) only for a first-round pick (2026) and three second-round picks.
—
Mark Medina,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
The former president of one of the largest homeowners associations in Florida — and her husband — admitted in court on Thursday afternoon to their roles in fleecing $2 million from residents’ monthly maintenance fees.
—
Grethel Aguila,
Sun Sentinel,
1 May 2026
The former president of one of the largest homeowners associations in Florida — and her husband — admitted in court on Thursday afternoon to their roles in fleecing $2 million from residents’ monthly maintenance fees.
—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Before that crackdown, the government had brought fraud charges against dozens of people, many of them Somali Americans, who were accused of fleecing a federal program that was meant to provide food to children.
—
Mark Vancleave,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
So congratulations on fleecing our state, and the city and the county of Boulder for more than $70 million when the deal could have been closed for $3 million to $5 million!
—
Bob Marshall,
Denver Post,
8 Mar. 2026
Shaun Benward, 38, of Mississippi was charged with fleecing employees at the Grand Falls Casino in Larchwood during a December 2018 visit.
—
William Morris,
Des Moines Register,
11 Feb. 2026
The district also continues to grapple with the shadow of ex-superintendent Devon Horton, who faces federal charges of fleecing District 65 through a kickback scheme.
—
Shun Graves,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fleecing
Noun
-
In an early instance of what authorities believe to have been an extortion attempt, federal prosecutors charged a California man with sending a fake ransom note via text message to Savannah Guthrie's family.
-
Peruvians voted in favor of Fujimori amid a surge in violent crime, extortion and years of political instability.
Verb
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And using what looks like a giant pile of gerbil food for half-day cooking projects just feels like cheating.
-
The chapters moved from crime rates to cheating teachers to drug dealers living with their mothers, linking unlikely variables with a kind of intellectual mischief that felt almost illicit.
Noun
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Other advantages include the fact that ownership of compute may reduce dependency on price fluctuations and gouging.
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But the buildup to America’s first time hosting the World Cup since 1994 has been nonstop controversy, from exorbitant ticket cost and price-gouging for public transportation to our country’s far-right immigration policies scaring away many would-be visitors.
Verb
-
Of course, attempts to get more revenue out of taxpayers would carry political risks, but voters have been open to squeezing the wealthy.
-
Coach Spencer Carbery has done a masterful job of both squeezing what’s left out of the franchise’s best-ever player — Ovechkin led the Caps in both goals (32) and points (64) in 2025-26 — while simultaneously masking the deficiencies that come with age.
Verb
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As with the studio version, the track began with Lifeson plucking out a delicate intro on a nylon-string guitar before blasting into monster electric riffs.
-
Vogue’s beauty shopping editor Kiana Murden became a devotee after plucking it from the beauty closet and using it religiously.
Verb
-
Langford was injured during Friday’s game after hustling on a double.
-
Letting go of the idea that success requires hustling at all costs — and replacing it with goals that feel attainable — can help founders shift toward a more sustainable approach, one where progress doesn't come at the cost of their well-being.
Verb
-
Significant stinging insect infestations like wasps and carpenter bees may also require a specialized plan that isn’t included in your general pest control service.
-
These stinging insects are black with yellow or white bands and are bigger than bees and yellow jackets.
Verb
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The breeze was screwing with the sound system, and the temperature dropped abruptly.
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America’s favorite sport is not football, or soccer, but screwing over sports fans, which is why FIFA should hold its World Cup in the United States permanently.
Cite this Entry
“Fleecing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fleecing. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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