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
Susan Tompor, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
Big-play problems Jacksonville’s defense has been gouged by big plays, most of them through the air.
—Dan Gelston, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2024
Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2024
Inside the Actor’s Real Estate Portfolio By Michelle Duncan
Look for any imperfections in the wood, like deep scuffs, nicks, holes, gouges, or scratches.
—Kenzi Wilbur, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gouge 
Verb
Some argued that banks engaged in practices that gouged consumers, caused overdraft fees to snowball, discouraged some people from keeping money in a bank and caused others to see their bank accounts closed.
—Susan Tompor, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
Big-play problems Jacksonville’s defense has been gouged by big plays, most of them through the air.
—Dan Gelston, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
Filing the edges of your putty knife can help avoid gouges in your ceiling.
—Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2024
Inside the Actor’s Real Estate Portfolio By Michelle Duncan
Look for any imperfections in the wood, like deep scuffs, nicks, holes, gouges, or scratches.
—Kenzi Wilbur, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gouge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gouge
Verb
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Should sting operations be left to the professionals?—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
4 Feb. 2025
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The tariffs against Canada and Mexico are especially stinging due to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a trade pact that was a signature agreement under Trump’s first administration.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
1 Feb. 2025
Noun
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By day, the stick insect hid in tree hollows, often congregating in significant numbers for shelter, with reports of as many as 60 insects found in a single hollow.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
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More than 24 hours of labor — augmented with Pitocin, to make contractions stronger — had left a deep hollow above his forehead.—
Pamela Colloff,
ProPublica,
29 Dec. 2024
Verb
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American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape, or form.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
Newsweek,
1 Feb. 2025
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Over a dozen stores across North Carolina must pay up after overcharging customers.—
Catherine Muccigrosso,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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When that sheet was pressed against sections of wet ice, the nanoparticles drew the liquid water up into the grooves, creating suction that pulled the material down into contact with the underlying solid ice within just 1.5 milliseconds.—
Ben Coxworth,
New Atlas,
2 Feb. 2025
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Already the money was spinning and Gerrard, layered in local clothing for National Day, was very much in the groove.—
James Pearce,
The Athletic,
2 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In February 1925, Ford cheated the electric chair by twisting up a bed sheet, suspending it from a bar over the door in the cell, and hanging himself.—
Mara Bovsun,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2025
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Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Elon Musk has seemingly admitted to cheating — in the virtual world.—
Raul A. Reyes,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Sidewall durability is important on an all-terrain tire because sidewall punctures are pretty much impossible to repair.—
Jakob Schiller,
Outside Online,
2 Jan. 2025
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The cardiology team made a small puncture of David’s right radial artery and threaded a catheter up into his coronary arteries.—
Budd Shenkin,
The Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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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
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The carriers could then surcharge their residential and commercial customers for half of what they are assessed.—
Laurence Darmiento,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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In January 2011, the 27-year-old teacher was found dead in her Philadelphia apartment with 20 stab wounds and a knife in her chest.—
Julia Reinstein,
ABC News,
4 Feb. 2025
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The Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office will reopen the investigation into the 2011 death of Ellen Greenberg, the teacher who was found with 20 stab wounds and whose death was controversially ruled a suicide.—
Liam Quinn,
People.com,
4 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near gouge
Cite this Entry
“Gouge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gouge. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.
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