rough up
phrasal 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
Hart began the year on the opening day roster, won his Padres debut, was roughed up in Chicago and then won his third start.
—
Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2025
But fans can't be too excited because Boston has already been roughed up with injuries.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
Diego Castillo was roughed up for three runs in the seventh inning.
—Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2025
In June 1969, police raided the bar and roughed up patrons before herding them into police vans, causing the crowd outside to become enraged.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rough up
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Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2025
But fans can't be too excited because Boston has already been roughed up with injuries.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
Diego Castillo was roughed up for three runs in the seventh inning.
—Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2025
In June 1969, police raided the bar and roughed up patrons before herding them into police vans, causing the crowd outside to become enraged.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2025
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 16 Jul. 2025.
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