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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The flames that licked through the football fields and tennis courts at Pali High devoured touchstones of an iconic campus—featured in films like Carrie and Freaky Friday.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
5 June 2025 -
Besides, Angela already got her lick back from Porsha’s comments about Charles by instigating the already precarious relationship between Porsha and her bestie and bringing Drew the news that Porsha filmed with Dennis.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
2 June 2025
Verb
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In the procedural drama, Rodríguez brings to life a multi-layered and solemn character shaped by a traumatic childhood — abused within the foster care system, with no knowledge of his origins, and struggling with severe dyslexia.—
Veronica Villafañe,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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Federal employees widely abused the Biden administration‘s telework policies, according to an inspector general report released by the Office of Personnel Management on Friday.—
Haisten Willis,
The Washington Examiner,
20 June 2025
Verb
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The idea is simple: guests hide small rubber ducks around the ship for others to find.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
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Diesel plays Kaulder, a cursed immortal knight who is tasked with keeping rogue witches in line and hidden from the general populace.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
13 June 2025
Verb
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In a May 2, 2017 text, Ventura was clear with Khorram that Combs allegedly attacked her.—
Rolling Stone,
Rolling Stone,
16 June 2025
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Even after December 7, 1941, when Japan attacked some of the territories that McKinley had claimed—Hawaii, the Philippines, and Guam—people from Kansas or California didn’t necessarily see any reason to don uniforms.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
16 June 2025
Verb
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His answers often incite him to pound his fist on the meeting table, interspersed with loud exclamations.—
Thor Svaboe,
Robb Report,
13 June 2025
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His approach emphasizes collaboration with industry to create a framework where the rules are clearly known as the primary regulatory tool rather than aggressive enforcement based on applying existing laws, which many industry insiders described as pounding a square peg into a round hole.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
Verb
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Highlighting these challenges, late Wednesday Hamas ambushed a bus carrying two dozen Palestinian GHF workers to a distribution center in southern Gaza, killing eight of them and injuring others, the GHF said, in an attack that came after days of Hamas threats.—
Taylor Luck,
Christian Science Monitor,
13 June 2025
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Prosecutors claim the alleged hitmen stalked Bennett in Los Angeles and ambushed him at a gas station near the Beverly Center shopping mall, firing at least 18 rounds from multiple guns, including a machine gun.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
9 June 2025
Verb
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Forecasters said Erick was expected over the coming hours to lash Mexico’s Pacific coast with heavy rain, strong winds and a fierce storm surge.—
Luis Alberto Cruz,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2025
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The White House previously lashed out at the CBO after its initial report on the bill, attacking an office traditionally seen as nonpartisan that provides budget analysis for lawmakers in both parties.—
Zachary Folk,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Verb
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Federal agents manhandled California Sen. Alex Padilla out of the room, shoved him down onto his knees and handcuffed him.—
Anita Chabria,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2025
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Brooks died at a hospital in Utica on Dec. 9, a day after he was punched, kicked, choked and manhandled by multiple officers at Marcy Correctional Facility — while handcuffed to a medical examination table.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
14 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 23 Jun. 2025.
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