rough up
verb
roughed up; roughing up; roughs up
informal
: to hit and hurt (someone)
The prisoner claimed that he was roughed up by the guards.
Examples of rough up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Boston starter Brayan Bello (1-2) was roughed up for four runs in four innings.
—
CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
Victor Caratini had a sacrifice fly and Brooks Lee added a two-run double as the Twins roughed up three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer.
—Ian Harrison, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s shag looks effortlessly cool parted to the side and roughed up with a texturizing spray.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 7 Apr. 2026
Orioles starter Chris Bassitt (0-2) was roughed up for six runs in two innings.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rough up
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CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
Victor Caratini had a sacrifice fly and Brooks Lee added a two-run double as the Twins roughed up three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer.
—Ian Harrison, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s shag looks effortlessly cool parted to the side and roughed up with a texturizing spray.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 7 Apr. 2026
Orioles starter Chris Bassitt (0-2) was roughed up for six runs in two innings.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rough up
Cite this Entry
“Rough up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rough%20up. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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