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

As flames licked at the fabric and smoke curled toward the ceiling, an overcapacity crowd of more than 1,800 panicked, rushing for the exits and jamming against doors that opened inward.

— Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026
Signs paws have already been burned include limping, refusing to walk, licking or chewing feet, darker or damaged pads and visible blisters or redness.

— Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026

Definition of lick

Verb

OpenAI says its threat reports draw on its view of how actors try to abuse AI models, often in combination with other platforms and tools.

— Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Four people represented by the ACLU of Tennessee filed a lawsuit in May accusing the task force of abusing the law to block them from documenting officers’ actions, sometimes ordering them to stay more than 100 feet away from arrest scenes.

— Andy Rose, CNN Money, 10 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

Spain’s front men are difficult to ignore Despite only one attacking return, Lamine Yamal ($10m) is still Spain’s most exciting fantasy option.

— Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 14 July 2026
The tourist who was attacked by a bison on Friday at Yellowstone National Park is recovering after being flung into the air.

— Zoe Cummings, Washington Post, 13 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

Three players cordon off opponents at the far edge of the six-yard box, which gives Trusty the time to take a touch and lash the ball home from close range.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 July 2026
The sun lashed everyone who arrived — some voluntarily, others hooked and lowered like cattle into the mines.

— Cristina Dorador, The Dial, 14 July 2026

Definition of lash

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 17 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of rough (up)

verb

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