as in licks
to strike repeatedly
the mob boss's thugs really worked him over
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for works over
Verb
-
Everybody licks the big pink flesh wall.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
13 Nov. 2025 -
Posted to the account @maisythemarshmallow on September 19, the video shows the dog, named Maisy, lying calmly as the cat snuggles up and licks her face.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And while Americans’ overall ideological self-identification looks stable in the aggregate (37% very conservative/conservative, 34% moderate, 25% very liberal/liberal), a January 2025 Gallup poll shows that this steadiness hides tectonic tensions tugging beneath the surface.—
Robert T.F. Downes,
Hartford Courant,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Now, Scieszka’s debut filters Tuck Everlasting-esque immortality through the social media age—examining how someone hides their eternal lifespan from facial recognition technology and venture capitalists looking to capitalize upon family property and the ultimate anti-aging secrets.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After her mani-pedi was complete, and the beautician had given her a coffee per usual, the pair were going to move on to brows and lashes when the woman asked to use the bathroom.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
28 Dec. 2025
-
In a scene based on a real incident that crystallized some of the public’s reaction to Bardot at the time, a cleaning lady lashes out at the star’s character in an elevator, angry over her promiscuity while the maid’s brother is fighting in the Algerian War.—
Lee Smith,
CNN Money,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Light Fixtures The dishwasher does an excellent job cleaning hard plastic and glass light fixtures.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
9 Jan. 2026
-
To a lesser extent, the Escalade also does battle with cars like the BMW X7, the Lexus LX, Mercedes GLS, and Range Rover, though, considering only American full-size luxury SUVs—as many buyers in the segment do—Escalade is well on top.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When the cooler months roll around, nothing beats the hearty flavors of this classic combination.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Snap beats revenue expectations and lifts guidance.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
So many conversations about so many things and for some reason that’s what hits home.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
When a record-breaking sale of a new penthouse hits her desk, Diane’s questions about the buyer’s identity lead to what could be the story of a lifetime.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Or whips around his defender in a bold pirouette.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Marty whips off his sport coat and throws it in the crowd.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Dec. 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
“Works over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/works%20over. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share