WORKING (OVER) Synonyms: 104 Similar Words

working over

verb

present participle of work over

as in licking

to strike repeatedly the mob boss's thugs really worked him over

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of working over Rybakina’s serve and forehand can take any match out of her opponent’s hands, especially on grass, but the latter shot has misfired of late, and McNally’s changes in rhythm will give the 27-year-old a serious working over. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 1 July 2026 There should be no pain or skin reddening during a proper session, and therapists avoid working over active swelling, infection or skin that’s undergone cancer treatment. — Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 However, Clayton-Thomas continued working over the decades, both solo and as a member of later incarnations of the band. — Jem Aswad, Variety, 25 June 2026 So college-bound or not, most teens would be better off working over the summer, gaining experience, skills, and perspective to see the big city beyond Santa Rosa. — Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 Angie Moore, a bartender at The Do Drop Inn, a bar on Main Street, was working over the weekend and watched groups of kids running past the business several times, saw youths jumping on top of a car and spotted some who made it to the rooftop of a downtown building. — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026 On Wednesday, the judge said that Sidhu had been given speeding penalties before the crash and had been working over 26 hours, with 16 of them being behind the wheel, per CBC. — Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026 Using clean hands and working over a colander, wring out the extra water and tear the soaked bread into pieces. — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2025 John Cooper described how much Redford enjoyed working over ideas with young filmmakers at the Sundance Institute each summer. — Scott Simon, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for working over

Verb

One act featured two young women sitting on the stage and licking orange Popsicles (yes, that was the whole act).

— Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Owners should also watch for licking that is sudden, persistent or severe enough to cause hair loss or skin damage.

— Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of licking

Verb

The trio were found hiding in a ditch about 200 yards from where they were pulled over, according to the news release.

— Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 31 Aug. 2026
After six months of war, the deadlock has left the Islamic Republic bitterly divided, while its ultimate arbiter, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, remains in hiding.

— Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of hiding

Verb

Odysseus ended up lashing himself to the mast and ordering his crew to plug their ears with wax.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Vinicius Jr started each of Brazil’s five matches at the World Cup and played a starring role in the group stage, lashing in an excellent goal against Morocco, scoring and assisting against Haiti, and adding a brace against Scotland.

— Cerys Jones, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of lashing

Verb

Danny Nelson starred again from the mound for Leominster in a 4-1 win over Shepherd Hill, allowing just three hits while punching out 10 in a complete game.

— Kristina Banahan, Boston Herald, 20 May 2026
The third frame was his sharpest, with Snell pitching around a two-out error from Kim and punching out Jorge Mateo on a curveball to end his night.

— Katie Woo, New York Times, 10 May 2026

Definition of punching out

Verb

Two months later, the couple went Instagram official, as the SKIMS founder was featured in a video which showed the F1 driver whipping around in his Ferrari F40 at the Daikoku Parking Area in Tokyo, Japan.

— Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Mercedes removed Willow’s cat, but Willow answered by whipping Mercedes with the AEW Women’s World Championship belt.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of whipping

Verb

Subsense, which has raised $27 million in funding, is currently doing preclinical work, experimenting with various elements of the technology and conducting some experiments on mice.

— Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
Now, the two men — coach and GM — are in the process of doing exactly as each promised when they were hired.

— Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of doing

Verb

As the graphic below shows, Fernandez-Pardo is comfortable running in-behind down the channels and sending in crosses, as well as beating his defender and cutting balls back for team-mates.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Dell Technologies — Shares of the computer maker jumped almost 9% after beating expectations on both lines.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of beating

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workings

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“Working over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/working%20over. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of working over

verb

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