rough (up)

verb

Definition of rough (up)next
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)
  1. lick
  2. abuse
  3. hide
  4. attack
  5. pound
  6. ambush
  7. lash
  8. manhandle
Verb
  • Later, a woman protractedly licks blue ice cream from a cone, her attempts thwarted by ferocious gusts of wind and sand.
    — Matilda Hague, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Griffin diligently washes his hands after his dogs lick them, especially before picking up a slice of pizza.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of lick
Verb
  • Her father is much more laid-back and won’t abuse the privilege.
    — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • That’s fine and good, but whenever police agencies have intrusive tools, some officers will abuse them.
    — Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of abuse
Verb
  • His brother was stuffing bricks of cash in multiple places and would even wrap the money in plastic before hiding it in spaghetti sauce jars.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Paul Robinson is accused of hiding a safe containing drugs and cash.
    — Jennifer Borrasso, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of hide
Verb
  • Another warehouse belonging to the Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries was also attacked to the east of Moscow, Vorobyov said, with a fire breaking out at the facility.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Crossing threat Undoubtedly, Coventry’s best attacking moments come from wide positions.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of attack
Verb
  • Communities still recovering from last weekend’s hurricane in Hawaii could get pounded again in coming days from another tropical system gaining strength over warm Pacific waters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Jay Lucarelli, 31, sat with his MacBook at the kitchen table in his mother’s home in Jackson Township, Ohio, pounding fastballs and energy drinks.
    — Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of pound
Verb
  • As Cole is driving Tibu back from a passing-of-the-torch party, the two are ambushed, and Tibu is killed.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Don’t ambush passengers while the aisles are crowded or before everyone knows which seats are occupied.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of ambush
Verb
  • Lala weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm Sunday after lashing the state without making landfall.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Holmes attempted to ask a follow-up, but Trump lashed out at her.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of lash
Verb
  • His hands and ability to manhandle blockers made him among the best defensive players in the West Valley League.
    — Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 31 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of manhandle
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

roughs (up)
rough (up)
rouging
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rough (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough%20%28up%29. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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