ROUGHING (UP) Synonyms: 135 Similar and Opposite Words

roughing (up)

verb

present participle of rough (up)

as in licking

to strike repeatedly she was badly roughed up by her boxing partner

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in abusing

to abuse physically the photographer claimed that he had been roughed up by the actor's bodyguards outside the club

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for roughing (up)

Verb

There’s truly nothing like licking that paper lid, then shoveling that tiny tongue depressor into a child-sized serving of vanilla or chocolate ice cream.

— Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026
Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, 19, admitted to licking the straw and returning it to the vending machine while recording the act for his online followers.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 30 July 2026

Definition of licking

Verb

In the film, Morton delivers a powerful monologue about men abusing power.

— Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026
An article in the Washington Post chronicled how police officers were caught abusing surveillance technology to stalk ex-wives and, in at least one case, an actress a police officer wanted to meet.

— Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of abusing

Verb

Keeber’s eldest son is still pounding the pavement looking for work as employers pull back entry-level hiring.

— Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026
Video captured by a tourist on board a boat in northern Botswana showed the heart-pounding moment the vessel had to outrun a charging hippo.

— Dennis Romero, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of pounding

Verb

New arrival Maghnes Akliouche adds another attacking option this summer, while the signing of Lucas Digne from Villa gives this particular fixture an early subplot, with the full-back facing his old club straight out of the gate.

— Dean Jones, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Three men are charged with attacking a CBS News Chicago crew near the Adler Planetarium at the end of June, before pointing a gun at people in the city's Brighton Park neighborhood before they were arrested.

— CBS Chicago Team, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of attacking

Verb

Risk intelligence gives marketplaces visibility into emerging threats as well as those hiding in plain sight.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
In videos posted to his Instagram account, Gallegos can be seen hiding underneath a table as plumes of dust burst in the air and parts of the ceiling crashed into the ground.

— Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of hiding

Verb

But this year’s edition could be the best one yet, and the Wolverines will get a chance to prove that next week in Indianapolis after manhandling Tennessee 95-62 yesterday at the United Center to clinch a spot in the Final Four.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
The Illini literally soaked in the celebration Thursday night after manhandling hometown favorite Houston to advance to the Elite 8 for the second time in three years.

— Ryan Baker, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026

Definition of manhandling

Verb

Powerful winds and lashing rain flipped over a truck in Zhejiang’s Wenzhou, a video posted on TikTok on Sunday showed.

— Reuters, NBC news, 10 Aug. 2026
The president has responded to the MAGA criticism by lashing out repeatedly at dissenters, prompting Greene – once a top Trump supporter – not to run for reelection and Massie to lose his primary.

— Zac Anderson, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of lashing

Verb

Gunther slowed the match down, mauling Aldis and sending him flying into the corner.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
In July 2025, the San Bernardino Police Department said one of its officers fatally shot a dog after responding to an incident in which a woman later died from her injuries believed to have been caused by the dog mauling.

— Paris Barraza, USA Today, 21 July 2026

Definition of mauling

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.

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roughing it

roughing (up)

rough it

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“Roughing (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roughing%20%28up%29. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of roughing (up)

verb

Example Sentences

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