work over
verb
worked over; working over; works over
1
: to subject to thorough examination, study, or treatment
shelf stock worked over by shoppers
2
: to do over : rework
saved the play by working the first act over
3
: to beat up or manhandle with thoroughness
My boxing opponent worked me over in the ring.
Synonyms
- bash
- baste
- bat
- batter
- beat
- belabor
- belt
- birch
- bludgeon
- buffet
- bung up
- club
- curry
- do
- drub
- fib [British]
- flog
- hammer
- hide
- lace
- lambaste
- lambast
- lash
- lather
- lick
- maul
- mess (up)
- paddle
- pelt
- pommel
- pound
- pummel
- punch out
- rough (up)
- slate
- slog
- switch
- tan
- thrash
- thresh
- thump
- tromp
- wallop
- whale
- whip
- whop
- whap
- whup
Examples of work over in a Sentence
the mob boss's thugs really worked him over
Recent Examples on the Web
On opening night, screen legend Sigourney Weaver received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement for her impressive body of work over the last half a century, encompassing everything from Alien and Working Girl to Gorillas in the Mist and Avatar.
—
Radhika Seth, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2024
That’s a lot of work over 1.5 seasons, but the Yankees were looking to add strikeout stuff to their bullpen.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 30 July 2024
In total, labor market participation declined by 2 percent, cashing out as working about 1.3 hours less per week, or roughly eight fewer days of work over the course of a year.
—Oshan Jarow, Vox, 22 July 2024
For a solution that works over the long-term, the United States should also look toward the supply side, harnessing its developing battery production capacity under the Inflation Reduction Act to meet the domestic demand for two and three-wheeled electric vehicles.
—Jennifer Jacobs Dungs, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for work over 
Radhika Seth, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2024
That’s a lot of work over 1.5 seasons, but the Yankees were looking to add strikeout stuff to their bullpen.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 30 July 2024
In total, labor market participation declined by 2 percent, cashing out as working about 1.3 hours less per week, or roughly eight fewer days of work over the course of a year.
—Oshan Jarow, Vox, 22 July 2024
For a solution that works over the long-term, the United States should also look toward the supply side, harnessing its developing battery production capacity under the Inflation Reduction Act to meet the domestic demand for two and three-wheeled electric vehicles.
—Jennifer Jacobs Dungs, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for work over
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'work over.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near work over
Cite this Entry
“Work over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/work%20over. Accessed 19 Sep. 2024.
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