roughed (up)

verb

past tense of rough (up)
1
as in licked
to strike repeatedly she was badly roughed up by her boxing partner

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in abused
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 roughed (up)
  1. licked
  2. abused
  3. pounded
  4. attacked
  5. lashed
  6. manhandled
  7. whipped
  8. ambushed
Verb
  • In Huntington Beach and San Clemente, the messy, wild waves licked the bottom of the pier structures.
    — Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 9 June 2026
  • When the tiffin is returned licked clean, Ila sends another meal but with a note, leading to a rich correspondence between the two.
    — David John Chávez, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
Definition of licked
Verb
  • Hodge says he was abused in multiple federal penitentiaries, but was frequently blocked from filing complaints about it.
    — Christie Thompson, NPR, 13 July 2026
  • Prosecutors have alleged that Millete physically abused May, pointing to her past journal entries.
    — Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026
Definition of abused
Verb
  • Video shows the moment the roof collapsed at a BJ’s Wholesale Club in New Jersey as heavy rain pounded the state.
    — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 7 July 2026
  • The second reason was that his sinking, two-seam fastball was getting pounded.
    — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of pounded
Verb
  • So the next time your brand wants to bare its teeth, picture Mickey in his tuxedo being attacked by an oversized beaver.
    — Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • The suspect is believed to be a woman, but investigators have not ruled out the possibility that the teen was attacked by a man wearing women’s clothes, according to a law enforcement source.
    — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 10 July 2026
Definition of attacked
Verb
  • Before the movie was even released, Roberts lashed out at Nolte in The New York Times.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 15 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 lashed
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 manhandled
Verb
  • The next morning, the wind whipped the lake to a froth, making the crossing to the river’s outlet impossible.
    — John Todd, Outdoor Life, 9 July 2026
  • And, alas, there isn't the customary chain saw whipped out at the end.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Definition of whipped
Verb
  • On May 17, 1777, a group of British soldiers, loyalist militia and Native Americans ambushed Georgia Patriots near the mouth of Thomas Creek, near what is now the Jacksonville airport.
    — Lane Degregory, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026
  • The first convoy sent by the Malian army was ambushed last Sunday, FLA said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 July 2026
Definition of ambushed
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

roughed it
roughed (up)
roughen
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Cite this Entry

“Roughed (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roughed%20%28up%29. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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