gouge
9 synonyms for gouge, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A chisel with a curved blade, used to cut grooves or hollows into wood or stone.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A chisel with a curved blade, used to cut grooves or hollows into wood or stone.
“He used a gouge to carve the bowl of the wooden spoon.”
How to use gouge
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
price gouging
gouge a hole
gouge someone's eyes out
Etymology
From Old French gouge, a word for a chisel with a curved blade, traced back to a Gaulish word for "beak" or "point".
Full origin of gouge →Frequently asked questions
What does “gouge” mean?
The word “gouge” means a chisel with a curved blade, used to cut grooves or hollows into wood or stone. In plain terms, a curved chisel or the groove it makes, or (as a verb) to scoop out a hole, or to badly overcharge someone.
How do you pronounce “gouge”?
“Gouge” is pronounced GOWJ (/ˈɡaʊ̯d͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “gouge” in a sentence?
Here is “gouge” used in a sentence: “He used a gouge to carve the bowl of the wooden spoon.”
What part of speech is “gouge”?
Depending on how it is used, “gouge” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “gouge” come from?
The word “gouge” comes from Old French. From Old French gouge, a word for a chisel with a curved blade, traced back to a Gaulish word for "beak" or "point".
How many meanings does “gouge” have?
“Gouge” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a chisel with a curved blade, used to cut grooves or hollows into wood or stone.
