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
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
But what has all that work over the last three-and-a-half years cost you physically, mentally, emotionally?
—Abc News, ABC News, 5 July 2024
State of play: Working teams from the U.S., Qatar, Egypt and Israel will continue technical work over the coming days on the details of implementation of the deal, the statement said.
—Barak Ravid, Axios, 16 Aug. 2024
Cities have worked over the last decade to put in place sensible limitations on the frequency of rentals, regulations to limit noise and negative impacts, and other safety concerns.
—Scott Singer, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for work over 
Jennifer Jacobs Dungs, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2024
But what has all that work over the last three-and-a-half years cost you physically, mentally, emotionally?
—Abc News, ABC News, 5 July 2024
State of play: Working teams from the U.S., Qatar, Egypt and Israel will continue technical work over the coming days on the details of implementation of the deal, the statement said.
—Barak Ravid, Axios, 16 Aug. 2024
Cities have worked over the last decade to put in place sensible limitations on the frequency of rentals, regulations to limit noise and negative impacts, and other safety concerns.
—Scott Singer, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 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 12 Sep. 2024.
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