fleecing 1 of 2

Definition of fleecingnext
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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fleecing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of fleece

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 fleecing
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 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
  • Federal prosecutors allege Flores was part of the inner circle of TdA leadership operating in Bogota, Colombia, overseeing a network involved in cocaine trafficking, extortion, and prostitution.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 15 May 2026
  • This four-part docuseries delves into how the case was made against over 300 people, with charges of murder, extortion, money laundering, and more.
    K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • And when everyone else in the classroom is a genius, cheating becomes a real option to stay ahead, especially in the sciences.
    Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
  • Kevin appeared to reference his 2017 cheating scandal, which transpired while Eniko was pregnant with their first child.
    Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
Noun
  • What Raiff has seen is price-gouging at private airports and terminals.
    Jim Edwards, Fortune, 14 May 2026
  • For its part, CF is clearly sensitive to the inevitable accusations of price-gouging.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • While progressive Democrats are pushing to tax billionaires and close corporate loopholes, Republicans are warning that squeezing job creators will severely damage Illinois’ economy.
    Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
  • Higher fuel costs are leading to inflation and squeezing household budgets, while industries from manufacturing to transport are facing rising operating costs and supply disruptions.
    Julhas Alam, Fortune, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • The Lightning historically have done a tremendous job plucking NHL talent from the middle rounds of the draft.
    Eduardo Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2026
  • Which is why Hailey Bieber’s bright white, electric G-Wagon is parked just feet away from the office bullpen, where 20-something staffers of the full-service production company are plucking away at their computers.
    Lucy Feldman, Time, 6 May 2026
Verb
  • The ball trickled behind second, and Hoerner kept going, hustling his way to second.
    Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
  • Over the past few years, Google has been hustling to reinvent its business for the AI age, trying to keep consumers in the habit of going to its search page as chatbots from startups such as OpenAI and Anthropic become more popular.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Despite a series of stinging gerrymandering losses, Democrats remain favored to take back the House.
    Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 18 May 2026
  • How to Identify Peach Tree Borers Adult peach tree borers resemble stinging wasps, an evolutionary trick designed to scare away predators.
    Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • Put the stopper back in the sink before re-screwing the pivot nut, horizontal rod, and sliding your under sink items back into place.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 8 May 2026
  • Finally, the professional will install hangers to reinforce your gutters before screwing the mesh guard on top.
    Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 4 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fleecing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fleecing. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

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