as in extortion
the exaction of a grossly excessive charge for goods or services
a hotline that consumers may use to report gouging at gasoline stations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in stinging
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gouging
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
President Lee Jae Myung also advised his government to crack down on oil refinery companies and gas stations to prevent price-gouging while making efforts to secure supply ships that do not pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 13 Mar. 2026
The public better wake up, because the creativity of the MTA, and Hochul’s gouging of a disinterested and unwise public, have no limits.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
Furniture pads on the bottoms of heavy furniture help protect laminate flooring from scratches and gouging.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 23 Feb. 2026
Soon after, Bradley stumbles on Zuri’s body and confronts Linda, resulting in a brutal fight that includes stabbing, scalp ripping, and some really upsetting eye gouging.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
As the tournament approaches, some Kansas Citians have raised concerns over the condition of some short-term rentals, price-gouging, or, at the very least, offering subpar properties for premium prices.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 10 Dec. 2025
Curtain calls Pankration was a form of sport invented by the ancient Greeks, a combination of wrestling and boxing in which almost everything short of biting and gouging was permitted.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2025
Noe Padilla, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Run a putty knife along the wet popcorn ceiling to scrape off the popcorn texture, but be careful to avoid gouging the ceiling with the corner of the putty knife.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Apr. 2026
Beyond the claims itself, evidence released in the trial had revealed some unflattering conversations between Live Nation representatives, perhaps most notably a set of exchanges between two regional employees bragging to each other about gouging concertgoers on ancillary fees and parking spaces.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2026
The session culminated in two new price-gouging laws.
—Richard Ramos, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Gillett contended the utilities were gouging the public.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
Others representing landlords said the number of price-gouging complaints had fallen off since April, signaling no need for extended protections.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
Hydee Feldstein Soto’s office has filed seven price-gouging lawsuits — three civil, four criminal — ranging from individual landlords to housing companies such as Blueground and Airbnb.
—Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
The price-gouging allegation dates back to the early months of the pandemic, when panic over shortages led to massive supermarket shopping sprees, and some products, such as eggs, saw sharp price increases.
—Imelda García, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 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
President Lee Jae Myung also advised his government to crack down on oil refinery companies and gas stations to prevent price-gouging while making efforts to secure supply ships that do not pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 13 Mar. 2026
The public better wake up, because the creativity of the MTA, and Hochul’s gouging of a disinterested and unwise public, have no limits.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
Furniture pads on the bottoms of heavy furniture help protect laminate flooring from scratches and gouging.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 23 Feb. 2026
Soon after, Bradley stumbles on Zuri’s body and confronts Linda, resulting in a brutal fight that includes stabbing, scalp ripping, and some really upsetting eye gouging.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
As the tournament approaches, some Kansas Citians have raised concerns over the condition of some short-term rentals, price-gouging, or, at the very least, offering subpar properties for premium prices.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 10 Dec. 2025
Curtain calls Pankration was a form of sport invented by the ancient Greeks, a combination of wrestling and boxing in which almost everything short of biting and gouging was permitted.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2025
Verb
But these concerns have not gone unnoticed, as a bill is currently making its way through the California General Assembly that aims to cap resale prices as a way to limit ticket brokers and resale platforms from price-gouging fans.
—Noe Padilla, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Run a putty knife along the wet popcorn ceiling to scrape off the popcorn texture, but be careful to avoid gouging the ceiling with the corner of the putty knife.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Apr. 2026
Beyond the claims itself, evidence released in the trial had revealed some unflattering conversations between Live Nation representatives, perhaps most notably a set of exchanges between two regional employees bragging to each other about gouging concertgoers on ancillary fees and parking spaces.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2026
The session culminated in two new price-gouging laws.
—Richard Ramos, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Gillett contended the utilities were gouging the public.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
Others representing landlords said the number of price-gouging complaints had fallen off since April, signaling no need for extended protections.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
Hydee Feldstein Soto’s office has filed seven price-gouging lawsuits — three civil, four criminal — ranging from individual landlords to housing companies such as Blueground and Airbnb.
—Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
The price-gouging allegation dates back to the early months of the pandemic, when panic over shortages led to massive supermarket shopping sprees, and some products, such as eggs, saw sharp price increases.
—Imelda García, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gouging
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
-
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
Noun
-
Nah, my dreams of us are probably better anyway - cheating?—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
-
And according to the data, most of this cheating is done with generative AI.—
Nate Anderson,
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
The robot pledged to respect and follow humans, refrain from damaging property or other robots, abstain from deceptive behavior and save energy by not overcharging.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
-
In two cases, the DMV fined them a total of $5,000 for overcharging people to get their vehicles after a tow and ordered Lombard to return more than $1,000 to the vehicle owners.—
Ginny Monk,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Merchants would gain surcharging flexibility and those that accept one of a network’s credit cards would no longer have to accept all of them.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gouging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gouging. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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