Thesaurus results for WORKING OVER

working over

verb

present participle of work over

as in licking

to strike repeatedly the mob boss's thugs really worked him over

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of working over Rybakina’s serve and forehand can take any match out of her opponent’s hands, especially on grass, but the latter shot has misfired of late, and McNally’s changes in rhythm will give the 27-year-old a serious working over. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 1 July 2026 There should be no pain or skin reddening during a proper session, and therapists avoid working over active swelling, infection or skin that’s undergone cancer treatment. — Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 However, Clayton-Thomas continued working over the decades, both solo and as a member of later incarnations of the band. — Jem Aswad, Variety, 25 June 2026 So college-bound or not, most teens would be better off working over the summer, gaining experience, skills, and perspective to see the big city beyond Santa Rosa. — Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 Angie Moore, a bartender at The Do Drop Inn, a bar on Main Street, was working over the weekend and watched groups of kids running past the business several times, saw youths jumping on top of a car and spotted some who made it to the rooftop of a downtown building. — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026 On Wednesday, the judge said that Sidhu had been given speeding penalties before the crash and had been working over 26 hours, with 16 of them being behind the wheel, per CBC. — Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026 Using clean hands and working over a colander, wring out the extra water and tear the soaked bread into pieces. — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2025 John Cooper described how much Redford enjoyed working over ideas with young filmmakers at the Sundance Institute each summer. — Scott Simon, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for working over

Verb

Teams have to be licking their chops after seeing what Tampa Bay did to Dallas last Thursday night, especially considering the defense (or lack thereof) that the Cowboys have shown through five weeks.

— Jonathan Rubin, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026
Carter is licking his wounds after the rest of the tribe sent Ana home in a blindside.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of licking

Verb

Strong winds, pounding seas and coastal flood threats will be near-constant companions for parts of North Carolina up through the Chesapeake Bay area this weekend as a nor’easter that’s expected to linger well into next week starts to take shape.

— Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
You were expected, at the very least, to put up a good fight, and the dance could get real ugly real quick—I’ve witnessed aunties and uncles pounding their fists on the table in a yelling war and checks being ripped straight down the middle.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of pounding

Verb

But this is in fact the opportunity hiding inside the greatest technological acceleration of our lifetimes.

— Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
Apparently, as Ted Bundy, Kip’s been Paused since last night, hiding under the porch of an attractive law student who’s suddenly on to him.

— George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of hiding

Verb

These are just two of the many scenes of destruction the hurricane has left in Hawaii after lashing the state’s western islands with heavy rain, widespread flooding and tropical-storm-force winds on Monday and Tuesday.

— Liz Kreutz, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026
This week’s meeting of G20 finance ministers underscored rising global trade tensions, with several countries, including the US, lashing out at China.

— Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of lashing

Verb

Rays starter Drew Rasmussen kept that lead strong through five innings, punching out seven.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
On Oregon’s next possession, facing a fourth and one, UCLA stuffed Thomas, once again punching out a fumble.

— Elias Esquivel, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of punching out

Verb

My opponent should be condemning political violence, not whipping it up.

— Dan Raby, CBS News, 5 Oct. 2026
In whipping rain and wind in New Jersey, the New York Giants held on for a 12-7 win in their first game since quarterback Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending knee injury.

— Andrew Greif, NBC news, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of whipping

Verb

Any company doing a div-recap is likely taking a forward-looking view that the IPO market will be closed in the short run.

— Hugh Leask, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Donaldson’s wife, Eleanor Donaldson, 60, was found to have aided and abetted her husband’s offenses for witnessing the abuse and doing nothing to intervene.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of doing

Verb

Prosecutors claimed Davis acted out of revenge for Shakur and his crew previously beating on Orlando Anderson, Davis’ nephew.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Heavy winds, beating sun and wide, open spaces give the area plentiful access to cheap green energy and land.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of beating

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working out

working over

workings

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Style

“Working over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/working%20over. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of working over

verb

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