1
as in licking
to strike repeatedly
she was badly roughed up by her boxing partner
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in abusing
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 roughing (up)
Verb
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Without enough physical or mental stimulation, licking can become a way to pass the time.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025 -
As the credits roll, audiences see several Hashiras navigating the creepy castle while licking their wounds.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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More importantly, Penske also describes this dynamic as antitrust behavior from a company abusing what the federal government has already described as Google’s monopoly status in the realm of Internet search.—
Andy Meek,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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As part of his plea agreement, Styner admitted to abusing a total of a dozen victims.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Israeli forces control Gaza City’s eastern suburbs and in recent days have been pounding the Sheikh Radwan and Tel Al-Hawa areas, from where they would be positioned to advance on central and western areas where most of the population is sheltering.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
19 Sep. 2025
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Moments later, blue strobes flashed, warped guitar rang out and pounding drums clanged.—
Audrey Gibbs,
Nashville Tennessean,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The team has started the 2025/26 season in a less than free-flowing fashion and has struggled to put up the attacking numbers that might be expected of a defending champion.—
James Nalton,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Atalanta comes in with resilience and attacking threats, particularly in transition, but their back line has looked shaky at times this year.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Keep scrolling to check out more of the best super discounts hiding in Amazon’s outlet before the weekend ends.—
Melody Kazel,
PEOPLE,
19 Sep. 2025
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The beetle starts to emerge from hiding in the fall and is likely to find its way into homes and buildings during the winter.—
Jordan Green,
Nashville Tennessean,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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San Francisco tackle Williams is 6-foot-5 and 320, and has been manhandling NFL linemen since Hufanga was a boy running around his parents’ farm in Oregon.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Rain was still lashing the windows when my phone rang sometime later—a few minutes or maybe an hour, still well before dawn.—
Rachel Pearson,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
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But when this lashing out becomes regular, the partner on the receiving end will start to expect their character to be attacked just as regularly.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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City enters Week 2 of the new campaign as Premier League leader after mauling its way to a 4-0 win over Wolves on opening weekend.—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Roughing (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roughing%20%28up%29. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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