1
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
she was badly roughed up by her boxing partner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
-
Flames were licking the upper branches of tall trees.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2025 -
While investors are licking their wounds from a plunging stock market, and businesses brace for economic fallout, major investment banks are reaping extraordinary profits, according to Wall Street Journal.—
Jack Kelly,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Donald Trump is abusing the levers of government to launch an attack against New York Attorney General Tish James on what seem to be pretty flimsy claims of fraud.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
20 Apr. 2025
-
The ways in which these attackers have abused Google’s email system clearly needs to be patched.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Unfortunately, the cause of the odor is often hidden.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
27 Apr. 2025
-
Liv is forced to break up with her human fiancé, Major (Robert Buckley) to avoid infecting him, and becomes estranged from her best friend and roommate Peyton (Aly Michalka), hiding her new zombie nature from both.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
According to Haynes, Lillard is motivated to attack his rehab and return to form.—
Mohammed Soliman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Apr. 2025
-
The account commonly attacks news publications and posts comments criticizing reporting about Hegseth and the Defense Department.—
Eleanor Watson,
CBS News,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Russia pounded Kyiv in an hourslong barrage Thursday, killing at least 12 people and injuring 87 in its deadliest assault on the Ukrainian capital since July.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Apr. 2025
-
For those interested in exploring opportunities in the legal cannabis space, pounding the pavement can be a heady process.—
Iris Dorbian,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
During a snowstorm outside of Jackson, Wyo., Joel (Pedro Pascal) saves Abby (Dever) from a horde of infected, only to be ambushed.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2025
-
But despite the multiple sanctions, the gangs have grown stronger, ambushing and attacking police and soldiers, firing on U.S. embassy vehicles and forcing Haitians, as recently as Thursday night, to flee their burning homes.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Verdugo lashed hard line drives in his first two at-bats with the Braves, off Twins pitcher Chris Paddack.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Apr. 2025
-
A day after his remarks, the president lashed out against the Fed chair.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Grant manhandled weaker offensive linemen in college, but there are concerns about his game translating to the NFL.—
Arick Wierson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Apr. 2025
-
Brito looked completely out of his depth as he was manhandled en route to a lopsided loss.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Rough (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough%20%28up%29. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share