rough up
phrasal verb
roughed up; roughing up; roughs up
informal
: to hit and hurt (someone)
The prisoner claimed that he was roughed up by the guards.
Examples of rough up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In June 1969, police raided the bar and roughed up patrons before herding them into police vans, causing the crowd outside to become enraged.
—
Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2025
Use your fingers to free up any large circling roots and rough up the root ball as much as possible so the roots will spread into the surrounding soil.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2025
The Royals, after roughing up Webb, didn’t let up when Spencer Bivins entered to start the fifth.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 21 May 2025
According to news accounts, many were roughed up, and more than 80 were arrested or deported.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rough up
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Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2025
Use your fingers to free up any large circling roots and rough up the root ball as much as possible so the roots will spread into the surrounding soil.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2025
The Royals, after roughing up Webb, didn’t let up when Spencer Bivins entered to start the fifth.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 21 May 2025
According to news accounts, many were roughed up, and more than 80 were arrested or deported.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rough up
Cite this Entry
“Rough up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rough%20up. Accessed 8 Jun. 2025.
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