as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
the mob boss's thugs really worked him over
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Recent Examples of work over
There will also be questions about his weight (though he’s done great work over the last eight months to get into the best shape of his career).
—
Sam Vecenie, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
However, this strategy will not work over the long-term.
—Jonathan I. Shenkman, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Administrators of a fund established after a gunman opened fire at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce worked over the holiday week to distribute, often personally, checks to survivors of the mass shooting and relatives of those who were killed.
—Grant Lancaster, arkansasonline.com, 29 Dec. 2024
His finest work over the last decade has been the product of huddling with a single producer (the 2013 Dām Funk team-up 7 Days of Funk, 2015’s Bush with the Neptunes).
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for work over 
Sam Vecenie, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
However, this strategy will not work over the long-term.
—Jonathan I. Shenkman, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Administrators of a fund established after a gunman opened fire at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce worked over the holiday week to distribute, often personally, checks to survivors of the mass shooting and relatives of those who were killed.
—Grant Lancaster, arkansasonline.com, 29 Dec. 2024
His finest work over the last decade has been the product of huddling with a single producer (the 2013 Dām Funk team-up 7 Days of Funk, 2015’s Bush with the Neptunes).
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for work over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work over
Verb
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If pets do go outside, Aitken recommended wiping their paws with a wet towel or baby wipes to ensure any soot is removed, to stop them from licking it off.—
John Mac Ghlionn,
Newsweek,
13 Jan. 2025
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Wipe paws off after walking outdoors with a wet washcloth or baby wipes to prevent pets from licking soot off of their feet after coming inside.—
Geoffrey Eisler,
ABC News,
12 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Asked about his identity and to provide authorization, Deng tried to hide his equipment and flee, prompting the officials to take him and his companions into custody.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
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The show struggles a bit in places to credibly evoke the relative innocence (or quiet oppression) of the 1970s and there are some moments of cluttered staging that just don’t work; as one example, a big gag involving kids hiding in a coffin kinda needs a casket to work.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The first phase of the truce took effect following a three-hour delay during which Israeli warplanes and artillery pounded the Gaza Strip.—
Mohammed Salem,
USA TODAY,
20 Jan. 2025
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As Israel pounded Gaza in response Hamas vowed not to return the hostages until Israel withdrew its forces from the enclave, permanently ended the war, and allowed for rebuilding.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Cats hide pain well, Koski said, but perhaps their owners have noticed them biting or lashing out.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
25 Jan. 2025
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Mercury has a delivery for Rachel, but the guys who have lashed the Stanfields to a couple of chairs and are interrogating them rather roughly are in the way.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
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So, if customers won’t directly tell brands what’s wrong, what can those brands do to remedy the situation?—
Tom Lewis,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
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Some say that more and more match-goers have taken to spending the hours before games at the stadium and doing their drinking there, rather than in pubs.—
Hannah Ryan,
CNN,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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At her best, the 26-year-old’s powerful hitting from the baseline is borderline unstoppable, particularly on hard courts.—
George Ramsay,
CNN,
25 Jan. 2025
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Last week, when quarterback Patrick Mahomes — tackled at the ankles and about to hit the turf — threw a touchdown pass to Kelce, the Chief’s German Instagram page, chiefsdeutschland, responded with a photo and all-capital letters caption: DIESER TD HAT UNS SPRACHLOS GEMACHT.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Williams had the ball punched out on a run by Jalen Carter, and the Eagles recovered and returned the ball all the way to the Rams’ 10-yard line, 4d ago / 2:18 PM PST Copied Share End of third: Eagles 16, Rams 15 Rohan Nadkarni Great, great game so far that’s setting up to be an exciting finish.—
Greg Rosenstein,
NBC News,
20 Jan. 2025
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With just under nine minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Jackson connected with an open Andrews, who had the ball punched out and recovered by Terrel Bernard.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
The Athletic,
19 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Today infernos whipped by a perfect storm of high winds and drought conditions hit the Western edges of the United States especially hard.—
Jennifer Jolly,
USA TODAY,
17 Jan. 2025
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As the fire came closer, whipped by strong winds barreling down the mountains, no ambulance appeared.—
Claire Fahy,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near work over
Cite this Entry
“Work over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work%20over. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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