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
John Marshall, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2026
Resorts gouge their customers at the window, and their customers find a workaround.
—Graham Averill, Outside, 16 Jan. 2026
Staff Author, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025
The mile-wide, 550-foot-deep gouge people see today was crafted in roughly 10 seconds when the meteorite, traveling at 26,000 mph, crash-landed in what was then a forest of juniper and piñon pines.
—Olivia Rose, AZCentral.com, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gouge
Verb
Scheffler pushed his drive into the right fairway bunker on the par-4, could only advance the ball 54 yards into the left rough and gouged his third shot short of the green.
—John Marshall, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2026
Resorts gouge their customers at the window, and their customers find a workaround.
—Graham Averill, Outside, 16 Jan. 2026
Noun
Why Metal Utensils Are Not Good For Your Nonstick Pan
While micro-scratches aren’t that big of a deal, micro can turn to macro gouges quickly, threatening the integrity of the entire surface.
—Staff Author, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025
The mile-wide, 550-foot-deep gouge people see today was crafted in roughly 10 seconds when the meteorite, traveling at 26,000 mph, crash-landed in what was then a forest of juniper and piñon pines.
—Olivia Rose, AZCentral.com, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gouge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gouge
Verb
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These scandals stung at the time, but looking back, Cyrus wouldn’t have changed a thing.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
-
All was going well when suddenly the scorpion stung the frog.—
Harvey Levine,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Generously pipe filling into hollow of each egg white half (save any leftover filling in the fridge for another use).—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 Mar. 2026
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The breeding pair, both six years and 10 months old, constructed the area's first nest in a century high within a hollow of an old-growth redwood in the Redwood Creek drainage.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
AZCentral.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Recent Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission filings show that the Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC overcharged more than 3,500 customers for their gas service.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Occasionally, a bit of truth will pierce that cover — such as a September investigation that found eight companies responsible for significant violations of state law that might have resulted in consumers being overcharged, or claims denied.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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It's helped to have Christian Braun and Cam Johnson finding a groove.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
18 Mar. 2026
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But the show, a spin-off based on the 2009 live comedy-action flick of the same name, could never fully commit to the cool, funky groove voice actors Michael Jai White and Tommy Davidson comfortably established each episode.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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So those Santa Ana constituents would be cheated out of services if the money remained solely in the First District.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
17 Mar. 2026
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But the people trying to cheat their way into benefits, Cooper said, are largely not the ones attending survivors’ conferences.—
Jacob Stern,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Rattlesnake bite symptoms include puncture wounds, swelling, bleeding, pain, agitation or depression, according to UC Davis.—
Brianna Taylor,
Sacbee.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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Despite other staff at the facility intervening quickly, prison officials say the correctional officer suffered several puncture wounds.—
Cecilio Padilla,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Domestic flights will also get surcharged.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
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Annual watercraft surcharges funding efforts to prevent the spread of invasive species are set to increase in 2026 from $10.60 to anywhere between $14 and $62, according to House Public Information Services.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
28 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Officers located a 28-year-old woman suffering from apparent stab wounds.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
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The victim suffered stab wounds to the left tricep and was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he was listed in fair condition, police said.—
Deanese Williams-Harris,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gouge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gouge. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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