ROUGH (UP) Synonyms: 133 Similar and Opposite Words

rough (up)

verb

Definition of rough (up)

as in to lick

to strike repeatedly she was badly roughed up by her boxing partner

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Later, a woman protractedly licks blue ice cream from a cone, her attempts thwarted by ferocious gusts of wind and sand.

— Matilda Hague, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
Griffin diligently washes his hands after his dogs lick them, especially before picking up a slice of pizza.

— Angela Haupt, Time, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of lick

Verb

Another warehouse belonging to the Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries was also attacked to the east of Moscow, Vorobyov said, with a fire breaking out at the facility.

— David Brennan, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Crossing threat Undoubtedly, Coventry’s best attacking moments come from wide positions.

— Liam Tharme, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of attack

Verb

Even the region's major interstate highway, I-70, was partly shut down after a section of it buckled under the weight of pounding rain.

— Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
The robust menu aims to satiate hungry tourists who’ve spent long hours pounding the black sampietrini cobblestones of the vast open-air museum that is the Eternal City.

— Alexandra Kirkman, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of pound

Verb

Lying in wait means a suspect waited for or hid from victims in order to ambush them, and as an allegation it’s meant to show premeditation.

— Andrew Dalton, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
While there was a period of harmony between the two coasts, that imploded after Shakur was ambushed at a Times Square recording studio in November 1994.

— Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of ambush

Verb

His hands and ability to manhandle blockers made him among the best defensive players in the West Valley League.

— Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 31 July 2026
During this stretch, the Colts will face three AFC opponents, including the Steelers, who manhandled them last year and forced Jones to commit a career-high five turnovers in a loss.

— James Boyd, New York Times, 15 May 2026

Definition of manhandle

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Browse Nearby Words

roughs (up)

rough (up)

rouging

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Style

“Rough (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough%20%28up%29. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of rough (up)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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