1
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
she was badly roughed up by her boxing partner
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to abuse
to abuse physically
the photographer claimed that he had been roughed up by the actor's bodyguards outside the club
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rough (up)
Verb
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Jose shrugs, pleads with her to not lick anyone at the inn, and leaves.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
22 May 2025 -
But Fahy, Alcock, and director Nicole Kassell are also very good at their jobs, and so even downright bizarre moments like Simone chewing Michaela’s used gum or Devon randomly licking a landscaper’s neck wind up making a strange sort of sense.—
Caroline Framke,
Vulture,
22 May 2025
Verb
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Three-time gold medal sprinter Gabby Thomas was verbally abused at a track meet in Philadelphia, not the first harassment this year.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2025
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Smart was subjected to daily rapes and often abused and starved throughout her 9-month ordeal.—
Stephanie Kaloi,
People.com,
5 June 2025
Verb
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Though Polish presidential candidates often stand as individuals, rather than representatives of a party, there is little hiding their affiliations, and each major party historically endorses and campaigns for a candidate.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
2 June 2025
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Ukraine was able to smuggle drones deep into Russia by hiding them in the tops of flatbed trucks, which parked near military bases before the drones lifted off to attack planes on the runway.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
2 June 2025
Verb
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Her dad drove to Boulder to attack the protest three days later, according to investigators.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
4 June 2025
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The pathogen is known as Fusarium graminearum, which can attack wheat, barley, maize and rice and sicken livestock and people, the FBI said in a court filing in Detroit.—
Ed White,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2025
Verb
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Such pollutants accumulate on the ocean’s surface near the Tijuana River, and then are released as wave action pounds the water and forms bubbles that burst.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
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Every time my phone rang, my heart started pounding.—
Matt Wolf,
Vulture,
28 May 2025
Verb
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The Angels ambushed Richard Fitts for three home runs in a calamitous six-run first inning, chasing the Red Sox starter from the game after only three outs in what ended up being a 7-6 loss.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
3 June 2025
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In London, Richie's men are arriving at O'Hara's office to ambush the ambush.—
Matt Cabral,
EW.com,
1 June 2025
Verb
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Bosses who lash out to get workers in line, by contrast, often feel a sense of accomplishment.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
6 June 2025
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The hostilities began when Trump lashed out at Musk's criticism of the Republican tax-cut and spending bill, and quickly escalated into an all-out online brawl on Trump's Truth Social and Musk's X, with prominent businessmen, analysts and political names weighing in on the fight.—
Anniek Bao,Dylan Butts,Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
6 June 2025
Verb
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The Thunder are the kings of the Western Conference after manhandling the Minnesota Timberwolves, 124-94, in Game 5 of the conference finals on Wednesday night.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
29 May 2025
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Too little, too late, my friend — but at least June looks surprised/appreciative as Lydia is manhandled into a noose of her own.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
20 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Rough (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough%20%28up%29. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
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