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
-
The spotless streets are polished nightly by the feet of families licking ice cream.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Mar. 2026 -
The dog ignored him, and licked the boy’s face.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
During the tantrum, the child verbally abuses the parent and also destroys property within the home.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Although this may change, as people who have acquired Irish citizenship but aren't Irish-born are abusing it, adding to the immigration woes in Britain.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Afterward, Smith didn’t hide his frustration.—
Colin Cerniglia,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Mar. 2026
-
And Elijah Wood provides a cheeky, bemused-insider vibe as the Danforths’ lawyer, who’s overseeing the technicalities and generally hiding behind a lectern when contestants start exploding.—
Jada Yuan,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
On Thursday, Iran’s new Supreme Leader said that his country would keep closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane through which about a fifth of the world’s oil flows, and more vessels in the Persian Gulf were attacked, including two oil tankers that were set ablaze off the coast of Iraq.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Iran attacked two oil tankers off the coast of Iraq overnight, setting them ablaze.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Irons pounds the drums like Bam-Bam smashing on two garbage-can lids.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Surprise, surprise, the drums started pounding for the SOB Act shortly after (though various legislative attempts have floated since Proposition 12 was passed) backed by a Midwestern congresswoman from a Big Pork state.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Lucca van der Woude approached Plaintiff from behind to ambush and digitally penetrate him.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Talk shows continued to invite her, often in order to ambush her.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Her makeup, on the other hand, is entirely modern with a lightly smoky eye, nude-pink lips, and the wispiest, fluttery lashes imaginable.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Israel’s allies have also faced the wrath of an Iranian regime lashing out at nearly every country in the region.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Lee had been caught on video back in 2017 shouting at a woman who was reportedly his girlfriend, manhandling her and calling her names, in a confrontation allegedly broken up by a teammate.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Social media served up a daily video deluge of heavily armed agents randomly manhandling dark-skinned people.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
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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 17 Mar. 2026.
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