as in licked
to strike repeatedly
the mob boss's thugs really worked him over
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Recent Examples of worked over
Graves said the police department worked over the summer, reprogramming the light bars to show a steady blue light.
—
Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2025
And Welch would know; the seasoned consultant, business columnist, and news contributor has witnessed what has worked over the past four decades.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
Bradley worked over a pair of walks in the first inning, getting out unscathed.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 31 Aug. 2025
White worked over the paragraph a third time, and telegraphed it to the magazine.
—Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
Sikoa worked over Zayn, even slamming him with the Spinning Solo for a nearfall.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2025
And Welch would know; the seasoned consultant, business columnist, and news contributor has witnessed what has worked over the past four decades.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
Bradley worked over a pair of walks in the first inning, getting out unscathed.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 31 Aug. 2025
White worked over the paragraph a third time, and telegraphed it to the magazine.
—Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
Sikoa worked over Zayn, even slamming him with the Spinning Solo for a nearfall.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worked over
Verb
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Show Viz Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest had counter-attacking licked.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
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The afternoon sun licked the windscreen of the car, and the heat boiled my skin.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The 12-day war with Iran in June was especially traumatizing, as Iranian missiles pounded Israeli cities and families slept in bomb shelters.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
7 Oct. 2025
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Rescuers are struggling to reach at least 200 hikers trapped in a Mount Everest valley by an unexpectedly fierce weekend snowstorm that pounded the mountain with snow and heavy rain, according to Chinese state media CCTV.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Conservatives on social media immediately lashed out at the news.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Oct. 2025
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Some Bethpage fans lashed out in a way that added to the embarrassment of the day.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Hakeem actually whipped his members to shut the government down.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Sep. 2025
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Folding whipped topping gently into the pudding mixture keeps the filling fluffy and mousse-like.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Johnson’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday, nor did HUD officials.—
Lizzie Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
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The two men then said Smollett paid them to stage the attack, and Smollett was charged with filing a false police report; the charges were later dropped after Smollett paid a fine and did community service.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The ball popped up in the air and Bolton was there to grab it, except he was hit by teammate Drue Tranquill.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
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Hikers hit Goat Trail Hill 'n Dale Hiking Club will hike Thursday along the Goat Trail to Steel Creek on the Buffalo National River.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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He's punched out 84 batters and allowed only 58 hits.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
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The late, great Red Sox legend Luis Tiant also punched out 11 in his MLB debut, but with Cleveland on July 19, 1964; his performance was exactly four years after Hall of Famer Juan Marichal racked up 12 in his first career game on July 19, 1960.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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While half-heartedly watching Napier against Miami, Stricklin accidentally knocked one of Marino’s letters out of place.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
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Guido has been a magnet for controversy; a decade earlier he had been knocked to the ground when the Pirates’ first baseman Randall Simon took a swing at him with his bat from the visitor’s dugout, causing both the Italian sausage and hot dog to fall.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Worked over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worked%20over. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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