gouge

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'gouge' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is taking advantage of a situation for profit or someone who is taking advantage of another person by asking for an exorbitant fee. Example sentence: The unscrupulous car salesman attempted to gouge his customer by overcharging for the repairs.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Those who answer this riddle correctly not only destroy monsters; they go on to marry their own mothers and beget children on them, and then gouge out their own eyes.Too bad for you that you answered it correctly.GARETH PENNTiburon, CaliforniaSIR Your call to the rest of the world to apply pressure on Ethiopia to make peace in the war with Eritrea is unfair ("Lethal punch-up", September 25th).

The Economist

In assessing horizontal mergers, regulators in Europe as well as America increasingly reason that rivals will emerge or respond if big firms try to gouge consumers.

The Economist

One proposed solution is to concentrate government resources in key hospitals (giving them sufficient funds to avoid the need to gouge patients) and turn the rest over to private control.

The Economist

The centre of gravity in research has shifted to "buy-side" firms, like hedge funds, which do not generally disseminate their work.It does not help that the investment banks underwriting IPOs continue to gouge investors.

The Economist

They do not want monopolists to gouge consumers and stifle innovation, yet they often struggle to determine the extent to which such things are happening.The officials trying to tame the monopolists lack important information about their business: a phenomenon economists call "asymmetric information".

The Economist

MONOPOLIES attract the disdain of economists and the attentions of trustbusters because they can gouge their customers.

The Economist

These three principles still leave the way open for selfish groups to gouge out micro-states at will.

The Economist

Indonesia's penchant for bureaucracy provides a long line of other officials, from fire inspectors to liaison officers at the ministry of labour, with all manner of opportunities to gouge hapless businessmen.A law unto themselvesIn theory, the courts should provide redress for victims of corruption.

The Economist

After all, Vojislav Seselj, the leader of the Radicals, boasted in 1991 that he intended to gouge out Croatian eyes with a rusty spoon.

The Economist

There is little evidence, for example, that mergers are making it easier to gouge consumers; on the contrary, the ability to shop electronically, by telephone or on the Internet leaves customers with more choices than ever before.

The Economist

To shore up profits, they gouge an ever-dwindling supply of full-fare mugs with ever-steeper ticket prices.Last month, America West, a mid-sized carrier, broke ranks, got rid of mandatory Saturday-night stays and began offering discounts of up to 80% on its walk-up prices.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gouge" when you want to express the unethical act of making a profit at the expense of someone else during difficult times.

Common error

Avoid using "gouge" simply to describe a high price. The term carries a strong connotation of unethical exploitation, so reserve it for situations where the price is unfairly inflated or predatory.

Linguistic Context

The word "gouge" functions primarily as a verb, denoting the action of forcefully carving or scooping something out, or exploiting someone financially. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes someone taking advantage of a situation for profit.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "gouge" is a versatile word with both physical and financial connotations. It can refer to the act of forcefully carving or scooping something out, or, more commonly, to unfairly overcharging someone. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes someone taking advantage of a situation for profit. It appears frequently in "News & Media" and "Encyclopedias", and its use implies disapproval of unethical behavior. When using "gouge", ensure the context clearly indicates unfairness to prevent misinterpretation. Alternatives include "carve out", "overcharge", and "extort", depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overcharge

A direct synonym for the financial meaning of "gouge", indicating the act of asking for an unfairly high price.

rip off

An informal way of saying someone is overcharging or defrauding you. The expression has high similarity.

scoop out

Highlights the act of removing material to create a hollow or depression, mirroring the physical action of "gouge".

hollow out

Focuses on removing the material from the inside of something. Very similar to the meaning of "gouge".

carve out

Focuses on the creation of space or shape through forceful removal, similar to the primary meaning of "gouge".

cut deeply

Emphasizes the depth and force of the cutting action, akin to the creation of a "gouge".

charge excessively

Specifically addresses the financial exploitation aspect of "gouge", emphasizing the unfair pricing.

take advantage of

Focuses on the unfairness and exploitation inherent in the financial sense of "gouge".

extort

Implies obtaining something through force or coercion, aligning with the negative connotation of "gouge".

make an indentation

Focuses on the physical result of gouging, the creation of a hollow mark.

FAQs

How can I use "gouge" in a sentence?

You can use "gouge" to describe making a mark or hole by scooping, pushing someone's eye, or charging an unreasonably high price. For example, "The company was accused of trying to "gouge" customers during the crisis".

What can I say instead of "gouge"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "carve out", "scoop out", "overcharge", or "extort".

When is it appropriate to use "gouge" in reference to pricing?

It's appropriate when the pricing is not only high but also exploitative or predatory, especially during times of crisis or limited competition. It implies an unethical profit motive.

What's the difference between "overcharge" and "gouge"?

"Overcharge" simply means charging more than the fair price. "Gouge" implies an intent to exploit and take unfair advantage of a situation to profit excessively.