as in murder
the intentional and unlawful taking of another person's life
the mafia boss ordered a rubout as casually as you might order a pizza
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to destroy
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
aerial bombs rubbed out the oil refinery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to assassinate
to put to death deliberately
an elaborate setup to rub out rival mobsters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to eradicate
to destroy all traces of
a promise to rub out the city's drug trade
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of rubout
Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2023
Leach, subsequently dealt from the Seals to the Flyers in May 1974, won the Cup with the Broad Streeters in ‘75 and amassed his 19 the following spring, when they were rubbed out by the Canadiens, 4-0, in the Cup Final.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 13 May 2023
The Penguins were rubbed out easily Tuesday night by the resurgent Devils, 5-1, a dispiriting loss that dipped them 1 point out of a wild-card spot behind the Panthers and Islanders.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Apr. 2023
But church officials warn that secularization more than anything led them to rub out the godparents, a Sicilian thing that’s been going on for 2,000 years, or at least since the church’s dicey first days, when sponsors known to bishops vouched for converts to prevent pagan infiltration.
—New York Times, 16 Oct. 2021
See All Example Sentences for rubout
Verb
Each wipe comes pre-soaked in Shout stain fighter and is designed with a textured surface that creates extra friction to rub out stains.
—Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2023
Leach, subsequently dealt from the Seals to the Flyers in May 1974, won the Cup with the Broad Streeters in ‘75 and amassed his 19 the following spring, when they were rubbed out by the Canadiens, 4-0, in the Cup Final.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 13 May 2023
The Penguins were rubbed out easily Tuesday night by the resurgent Devils, 5-1, a dispiriting loss that dipped them 1 point out of a wild-card spot behind the Panthers and Islanders.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Apr. 2023
But church officials warn that secularization more than anything led them to rub out the godparents, a Sicilian thing that’s been going on for 2,000 years, or at least since the church’s dicey first days, when sponsors known to bishops vouched for converts to prevent pagan infiltration.
—New York Times, 16 Oct. 2021
See All Example Sentences for rubout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubout
Noun
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After being arrested at the end of season two during her wedding for the murder of Cynthia’s (Sabrina Grdevich) husband, Tom, Georgia is now on trial for her life in the show’s third installment.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
7 June 2025
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The manhunt continues for Decker, who has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of kidnapping in the deaths of his daughters Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
7 June 2025
Verb
-
The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a plea from a group of Native American activists and supporters to block a copper mining company from destroying an Apache religious site.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
27 May 2025
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Another key feature of algae oil is its high smoke point of 535 degrees—the temperature at which oil begins to break down, release dangerous chemicals, and destroy its nutrients.—
Jonathan Purtell,
Verywell Health,
27 May 2025
Verb
-
Milk was assassinated in 1978 by a former colleague on the board.—
Jonathan Horwitz,
Oc Register,
23 May 2025
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The day after John F. Kennedy was assassinated, a little over four years earlier in 1963, Hartford Public Schools held a half-day so students could grieve.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
21 May 2025
Verb
-
Volunteer in a California state park or join the local chapter of California Native Plant Society project to eradicate invasive plants and preserve native habitats.—
Nan Sterman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2025
-
Surgeons removed her thyroid gland but did not fully eradicate the cancer, which had spread to her vocal cords, the paper said.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
The shooting is now being investigated as a homicide.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
7 June 2025
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Shortly after Alex’s conviction in March 2023, Smith’s death was officially ruled a homicide.—
Lynsey Eidell,
People.com,
7 June 2025
Verb
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There were missions that felt like a rally racing mini-game, asking me to navigate between timer-extending rings dotting barren desert ruins.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
3 June 2025
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But Foxx lamented how the producer ruined his legacy after being arrested in Manhattan last September following a grand jury indictment.—
Mekishana Pierre Published,
EW.com,
3 June 2025
Verb
-
Men and boys have been targeted and slain on ethnic grounds.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
3 June 2025
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No one is saying that people with inherent privilege don’t work hard or haven’t faced their own battles and slayed their own dragons and worked really, really hard.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
2 June 2025
Verb
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So, this should lower those percentage gaps in time, if not erase them.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
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The voices and contributions of women and people of color were overlooked and erased through much of America’s military history.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
26 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rubout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubout. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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