as in licked
to strike repeatedly
the mob boss's thugs really worked him over
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Recent Examples of worked over
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
White worked over the paragraph a third time, and telegraphed it to the magazine.
—Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
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
White worked over the paragraph a third time, and telegraphed it to the magazine.
—Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worked over
Verb
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Ghadimi licked her lips over and over.—
Babak Dehghanpisheh,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
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When asked by director Marina Zenovich if there was a time when Chase walked away from his mother and stepfather and never saw them again, Chase pretended to swat a fly on his forehead, then licked his fingers as if eating the imaginary bug.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Court documents say when the officers tried to leave, Catlett pounded on the hood and kicked the side door of their car.—
Ashley Grams,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
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Searchers looked in backyards, knocked on doors and pounded the pavement.—
Susan Young,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The skier’s comments somehow came to the attention of the president, who lashed out at Hess on Truth Social on Sunday.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
8 Feb. 2026
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The president has lashed out at current Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over the Fed's slow-and-steady approach to interest rate cuts over the last year.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Pierce died Friday after being whipped with a belt and being forced to stand in a cold shower, authorities said.—
Clifford Ward,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
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Thanks to whipped egg whites, these cookies are airy and crisp on the outside and gooey on the inside.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As former agent and cap expert Joel Corry told me, the amount that Ross agrees to pay of Tagovailoa’s 2026 salary (for a new team) would not have much effect on his Dolphins’ dead money cap hit provided the trade is made after June 1.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
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Some of the students at Naperville North tried to mimic the coach’s actions, working on their technique, while other appeared to be more focused on hitting the ball to their friend as hard as possible.—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Johnson’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday, nor did HUD officials.—
Lizzie Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
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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
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Coarse stones with large crystals chip and fracture easily when knocked together.—
Asuka Koda,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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In the letter to Demacopoulos, the family said Gutiérrez told a friend that her boyfriend punched her and knocked one out.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Worked over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worked%20over. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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