drubbed; drubbing

transitive verb

1
: to beat severely
2
: to berate critically
3
: to defeat decisively
drubber noun
drubbing noun

Did you know?

Sportswriters often use the word drub when a team they are covering is drubbed—that is, routed—but the term’s history reveals that it wasn’t always a sporting word. When drub was first used in English, it referred to a method of punishment that involved beating the soles of the accused’s feet with a stick or cudgel. The term was apparently brought to England in the 17th century by travelers who reported observing the punitive practice abroad. The ultimate origin of drub is uncertain, but the etymological culprit may be the Arabic word ḍaraba, meaning “to beat.” Over the centuries, drub developed the additional milder, and now more common, meanings of “to berate critically” and “to defeat decisively.”

Examples of drub in a Sentence

a crowd was drubbing the purse snatcher when the police arrived on the scene we drubbed our traditional football rivals so badly that it was basically no contest
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The Bears upset the Vikings in Minnesota before the San Francisco 49ers drubbed them at Candlestick Park. Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2025 The win meant something to Minnesota after it was drubbed by the Knicks on national television a month prior at Target Center. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 17 Jan. 2025 The Democrats’ power structure is dominated by lawmakers from the coasts — both at the leadership and committee level — and Craig is the only one of the three candidates to represent the Heartland, where Democrats were drubbed in this year’s presidential contest. Mike Lillis, The Hill, 16 Dec. 2024 Denver dominated on the ground, dominated on defense and dominated in Payton’s return to New Orleans, drubbing the Saints 33-10 in primetime. Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for drub

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from Arabic ḍaraba

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of drub was in 1634

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Cite this Entry

“Drub.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drub. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

drub

verb
drubbed; drubbing
1
: to beat severely
2
: to defeat completely
drubbed her opponent in the tennis match

More from Merriam-Webster on drub

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