as in licked
to strike repeatedly
the mob boss's thugs really worked him over
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Recent Examples of worked over
For what would be his last and most ambitious venture outside of the Dead, Weir unexpectedly reached out to Was, with whom Weir had occasionally worked over the previous two-plus decades.
—
David Browne, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
This year, about 500 volunteers worked over the MLK celebration weekend.
—Aria Jones, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
Roxanne worked over Iyo’s left leg as Sky fought from underneath.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
The longtime consultant, business columnist, and news contributor has witnessed what has worked over the past four decades.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
Overtime rules in Michigan remain the same, requiring that employers pay nonexempt employees 1 ½ times their regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 in a seven-day work week.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
Forest Hills has worked over the last few years to expand their internship and mentorship program, which is now called XCL.
—Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2025
Graves said the police department worked over the summer, reprogramming the light bars to show a steady blue light.
—Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2025
Bradley worked over a pair of walks in the first inning, getting out unscathed.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 31 Aug. 2025
David Browne, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
This year, about 500 volunteers worked over the MLK celebration weekend.
—Aria Jones, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
Roxanne worked over Iyo’s left leg as Sky fought from underneath.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
The longtime consultant, business columnist, and news contributor has witnessed what has worked over the past four decades.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
Overtime rules in Michigan remain the same, requiring that employers pay nonexempt employees 1 ½ times their regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 in a seven-day work week.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
Forest Hills has worked over the last few years to expand their internship and mentorship program, which is now called XCL.
—Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2025
Graves said the police department worked over the summer, reprogramming the light bars to show a steady blue light.
—Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2025
Bradley worked over a pair of walks in the first inning, getting out unscathed.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 31 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worked over
Verb
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Of course, the flue was closed, so the fire licked up the walls, left a smell like the fall, like ancient smokehouses and dung.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
-
At Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures, the oldest carving factory in America, a team of former archaeologists and butchers creates ephemeral art designed to be licked, touched, and eventually, lost.—
Blair Braverman,
Outside,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Kings pounded the Clippers inside and controlled the boards behind a balanced attack.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The atmospheric scientist was chasing thunderstorms near Kankakee Tuesday night that swept across northern Illinois and northwest Indiana — producing destructive tornadoes that razed houses and farmland, and pelting hail that pounded roofs and smashed car windows.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Rain and storms lashed many other areas across the country, emergency services reported.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
In the play’s climax, the hero is stripped naked and lashed to a horse, which is sent galloping across the stage.—
Betsy Golden Kellem,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Bath scrubs, body butters, whipped soaps and more are also available to elevate your routine.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Oil prices whipped from nearly $120 per barrel, their highest since 2022, back toward $90.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The ball then hit the football goal post crossbar and bounded down to Luis Duenas who headed it from point-blank range toward the net.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The organization doesn’t expect Owens to hit and pitch in the same game this year, but intends to build him toward that goal eventually.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Johnson’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday, nor did HUD officials.—
Lizzie Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The two men then said Smollett paid them to stage the attack, and Smollett was charged with filing a false police report; the charges were later dropped after Smollett paid a fine and did community service.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But two plays later, Drake Maye was lunging forward on a run and had the ball punched out.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Jan. 2026
-
Packer defensive lineman Willie Davis somehow punched out the ball.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
One victim was knocked unconscious for several seconds, while another was surrounded and attacked.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Dallas has knocked Colorado out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs three times this decade — in the COVID-19 bubble tournament of 2020, then again in each of the past two years.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Worked over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worked%20over. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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