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 flames licked at the neighborhood’s outskirts, toasting a few leaves at the perimeter, but didn’t damage a single residence in the community.—
Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2025
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As Ferrell resumed singing with Johansson, Kardashian and Gasteyer, Wiig proceeded to lick Dooneese’s tiny hands and stroke Johansson’s face, tap on one of Gasteyer’s breasts and pretend to play the drums on Kardashian’s butt.—
Verb
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The suit alleged Combs raped, drugged and physically abused her, the latter claim being supported by a 2016 hotel video obtained and released by CNN last year of the music producer dragging and hitting the singer.—
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While fentanyl is not widely abused in Mexico, methamphetamine addiction is commonplace.—
Verb
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Imani Randolph, a model and creator, recalls her mom’s upbringing in the Bronx where effort wasn’t hidden, it was celebrated.—
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The good news is that new data solutions are emerging to help businesses finally unlock the potential hidden within their data.—
Verb
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When that extreme trend was pointed out to Suzuki, the Cubs hitting infrastructure worked with him to look for moments to be aggressive and attack the first pitch.—
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Government officials and local civil society leaders didn't immediately comment, though Congo's Communications Ministry said the rebels had violated ceasefire agreements and attacked Congolese troops working to avoid urban warfare and violence in Bukavu.—
Verb
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Musk pounded his chest and raised his right arm in an angular motion while giving his speech.—
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That involved Shorrock and a few others pounding posts in the ground, putting up heavy metal fencing and twisting metal ties together.—
Verb
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Police said Thompson was walking from his hotel toward the venue on W. 54th St. near Sixth Ave., when he was ambushed by a masked gunman around 6:45 a.m.—
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Soon, a ransom drop was made, and the men were rescued by a cohort of Moïse in what one of the abductees would describe as the same white Toyota Hilux pickup with a government plates that ambushed them a week earlier.—
Verb
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In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Mr. Trump lashed out at Zelenskyy, accusing him of duping the U.S. into providing billions in aid to Ukraine and misusing it.—
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Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, lashed out at the Trump administration for leaving him out of the talks.—
Verb
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But much of the NL Central seems stagnant, the NL West has the Colorado Rockies to kick around, and the NL East can manhandle the Miami Marlins.—
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Arrested, we were manhandled and taken at frighteningly high speeds to a Polish police station.—
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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 1 Mar. 2025.
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