gouges 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of gouge
as in stings
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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

gouges

2 of 2

noun

plural of gouge

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 gouges
Verb
In 2017, he was recalled after backing the $5 billion yearly gas tax that still gouges at the pump. — John Seiler, Oc Register, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gouges
Verb
  • General Mills spun off Darden Restaurants in 1995, and then Darden sold Red Lobster in 2014, in a deal with the private equity firm Golden Gate Capital that still stings many veterans to this day.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The pain of losing Hollywood actor Heath Ledger nearly 20 years ago still stings for his on-screen Dark Knight family.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Just suffice it to say that both of their projects have broad cross-generational appeal, although Dean’s timeless grooves might be more squarely in the pocket for older voters, whereas Rodrigo has a dad-rock factor going for her.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Even without those, the grooves in the surface keep it from getting slick underfoot.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The most recent tally for 2024 shows overcharges ranging up to $480 per residential account.
    — Ed Hirs, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • An electronic safety system monitors each cell during operations, avoiding both under- and overcharges.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 22 Aug. 2017
Noun
  • As long as you nestle each new layer into the hollows below, either method will ultimately lead to a version of the same structure, with a density of about 74 percent.
    — Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Arcadia Valley Missouri The hills, hollows, caves, and springs of the Missouri Ozarks all promise great fall drives.
    — Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 12 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Any forward who cheats for defence, as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has for much of his career, will play an elevated role on a Babcock team.
    — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 26 June 2026
  • Though Lesnar rarely cheats to win, Femi isn’t going to lose clean.
    — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Noun
  • After a minute of this, the crash of hi-hat punctures the silence.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • According to the Mayo Clinic, Pilonidal disease usually occurs when hair punctures and embeds itself in a pocket of skin near the tailbone.
    — Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The fight took a physical toll on LaPenna The physical side of the fight became pretty clear once LaPenna started trading punches with the robots.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Canada’s import bans Washington may be taking a light touch approach to the AI industry, but the administration is pulling no punches with Canada.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gouges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gouges. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!