1
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
she was badly roughed up by her boxing partner
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to abuse
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 rough (up)
Verb
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The race is being widely viewed as a must-win for Democrats who at the national level are still licking their 2024 election wounds, as well as a potential referendum on Trump and Musk.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2025 -
Cora appears to enjoy the routine and happily lets the cat lick at the tufts of blonde hair on her head.—
Kelli Bender,
People.com,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Authorities subsequently found that the boy and Ruby's 10-year-old daughter had been seriously abused.—
Liam Quinn,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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In May 2023, Attorney General Kwame Raoul published a 696-page report, which found that over about seven decades, at least 1,997 children have been abused by 451 Catholic clerics and religious brothers across the state’s dioceses.—
Natalie Demaree,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Because the kitchen is visible from the living and dining areas, Allison downplayed the utilitarian stuff, tucking the stainless-steel refrigerator behind a wall and hiding the range behind the island.—
Amy Panos,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Apr. 2025
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Rogers was found hiding under a bridge nearby and was arrested, authorities said.—
Kate Linderman,
Kansas City Star,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Aged 30, Makelele had been converted from an attacking midfielder to a deep-lying, anchoring midfielder that would protect his back line and hoover up any defensive actions that came anywhere near his orbit.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
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And the reality remains: The only way to seriously attack the nation’s $37 trillion debt is to craft more financially sustainable safety net and entitlement programs.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The show follows Richards pounding the pavement in every shot as he is violently hunted.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
3 Apr. 2025
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That leaves us with Tim, STILL pounding the pills and booze.—
Dan Heching,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Mahdi ambushed Orangeburg public safety officer James Myers at the officer’s shed in Calhoun County in July 2004.—
Jeffrey Collins,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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The attacks started this week after reports emerged that Assad loyalists had ambushed and killed members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham – the rebel group that spearheaded the rebellion that ousted the former Syrian leader.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
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However, Cabello lashed out at U.S. authorities, accusing them of unjustly detaining and deporting Venezuelans under false claims of gang affiliations.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2025
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In early March, tropical storm Alfred battered Australia’s heavily populated east coast, lashing the region with damaging winds and heavy rain for several days as hundreds of thousands of homes in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales lost power.—
Edward Szekeres and Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Oklahoma manhandled its two opponents in the first two rounds, dispatching No. 14 seed Florida Gulf Coast, 81-58, and not having much more trouble with No. 6 seed Iowa, 96-62.—
Kels Dayton,
Hartford Courant,
26 Mar. 2025
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He was accused of manhandling Mitts during a heated debate about Chicago’s status as a sanctuary city, by blocking her from entering the City Council chambers.—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Rough (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough%20%28up%29. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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