The term "gouges out" refers to the act of forcefully removing something, and its antonyms would be the opposite of this action. These antonyms may be phrases such as "inserts gently," "places carefully," or "adds softly." Alternatively, if we refer to the specific context of digging or hollowing out, antonyms for "gouges out" could include "fills in," "replaces," or "levels out." Depending on the situation, there may be several different words or phrases that could function as antonyms for "gouges out," all of which would convey a sense of gentle, deliberate, or thoughtful action.