ROUGH (UP) Synonyms: 133 Similar and Opposite Words

rough (up)

verb

Definition of rough (up)

as in to lick

to strike repeatedly she was badly roughed up by her boxing partner

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Grande licked one of them, and fans were immediately outraged by the moment.

— Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 16 July 2026
Some of the flames come close to licking the glass, as the wildfire blows across the tracks.

— Frank Landymore, Futurism, 15 July 2026

Definition of lick

Verb

Some evidence of harms from testosterone stem from people who abuse the hormone, taking levels well above what would be used to bring a patient with hypogonadism into a normal range.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026
The textbook catalogs the ways prosecutors can abuse their powers.

— Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 17 July 2026

Definition of abuse

Verb

What was the thinking behind hiding this information up until the finale?

— Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 15 July 2026
For most of the past century, mathematicians have been exploring the limits of Ramsey theory, the study of order hiding inside chaos—or, more accurately, how much disorder can be packed into a system before order must inevitably emerge.

— Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 15 July 2026

Definition of hide

Verb

Investigators determined that a group of men had attacked him at his San Jose home and that one of them struck him in the face with the handle of a firearm, police said.

— Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 21 July 2026
Refineries are maxed out, especially after Iran attacked 30 Middle Eastern refineries during the course of the war.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 21 July 2026

Definition of attack

Verb

In IconArrows pointing outwards RANDOM, BUT INTERESTING Russia’s energy infrastructure continues to get pounded by Ukrainian drones.

— Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 16 July 2026
Vargas pounded a monster second-deck home run in the eighth inning that turned into this game’s only extra-base hit — by either team.

— Jayson Stark, New York Times, 15 July 2026

Definition of pound

Verb

Jordan Harbst, 25, was ambushed and stabbed to death early July 6 while riding a scooter home along the Greenbelt, prosecutors said.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 16 July 2026
According to prosecutors, a group of gunmen later tracked Bowman to Los Angeles in 2022, then stalked and ambushed him at a gas station near the Beverly Center, firing at least 18 rounds from multiple weapons, including a machine gun.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2026

Definition of ambush

Verb

During this stretch, the Colts will face three AFC opponents, including the Steelers, who manhandled them last year and forced Jones to commit a career-high five turnovers in a loss.

— James Boyd, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Those ramped up after Ottawa was completely manhandled by the Canes, and never held the lead at any point in the series.

— Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026

Definition of manhandle

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Browse Nearby Words

roughs (up)

rough (up)

rouging

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Style

“Rough (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough%20%28up%29. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of rough (up)

verb

Example Sentences

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