roughed up
Handled with violence
Roughed up means physically attacked or beaten, though typically not severely—more manhandled than brutalized: The bouncers roughed him up and threw him out.
Police rough up suspects; thugs rough up shopkeepers.
The phrase suggests intimidation through violence rather than serious injury.
Figuratively, it can describe harsh treatment of any kind: The critics really roughed up his new novel.
- assaultedSubjected to physical harm
- beatenHaving lost a contest
- worked overViolently beaten
- pummeledStruck many times
- batteredDamaged by repeated blows
scuffed · mugged · bruised · brawled · street fight · injured · thrashed · bloodied · knocked around · bashed · tousled · attacked · shoved · beat up · manhandled · sucker punched · fought · fists