rubbing out

verb

Definition of rubbing outnext
present participle of rub out
1
as in destroying
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of aerial bombs rubbed out the oil refinery

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in murdering
to put to death deliberately an elaborate setup to rub out rival mobsters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in eradicating
to destroy all traces of a promise to rub out the city's drug trade

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubbing out
  1. destroying
  2. murdering
  3. erasing
  4. demolishing
  5. wrecking
  6. executing
  7. abolishing
Verb
  • The most pressing problem concerns European Union rules on carbon dioxide emissions, with bottom-line-destroying fines for the bigger failures.
    Neil Winton, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
  • At this point, most of the surveys are showing roughly seventy per cent of Israelis would prefer a hostage deal to whatever the alternative is, like destroying Hamas by any means.
    Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2025
Definition of destroying
Verb
  • Sutcliffe was convicted of murdering 13 women as well as attempting to murder seven others.
    Lorenzino Estrada, Arizona Republic, 2 Jan. 2025
  • The timing was awkward — as Bashar and his gang were murdering unarmed protesters en masse.
    Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 31 Dec. 2024
Definition of murdering
Verb
  • Letting go isn’t about erasing the past but about honoring the emotional depth while accepting its conclusion.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
  • With rates nearing neutral levels, Powell emphasized the importance of a cautious approach, erasing any lingering hopes for aggressive easing.
    Benzinga, Detroit Free Press, 21 Dec. 2024
Definition of erasing
Verb
  • Which program will pay the most for the valuable service of demolishing them?
    Sam Blum, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
  • His endless highlight reel will be one of the lasting stories of the 2024 college football season — a sledgehammer in shoulder pads, demolishing defenders in his path.
    Justin Williams, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
Definition of demolishing
Verb
  • This prequel flashes back to a previous Christmas in Los Angeles, when their unintentional destruction of a Santa Claus parade balloon put the city on edge, wrecking the gang's plans for a massive Yuletide bank robbery.
    EW.com, EW.com, 20 Dec. 2024
  • The vocalist’s sole concerns related to the natural environment, the animal kingdom and humankind’s responsibility for wrecking our only home.
    Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 12 Dec. 2024
Definition of wrecking
Verb
  • Penn State raced ahead 14-0 before executing two consecutive offensive scoring drives to finish the half up 28-0.
    Kambui Bomani, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
  • He has been involved in executing the recommendations of the Interpath findings.
    Adam Crafton, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of executing
Verb
  • And any legislation in the Senate may require a filibuster-proof margin of 60 votes; even if all Republican senators were in favor of abolishing the department (which is not at all a sure thing), that would still require seven Democratic senators to join them — a tall order.
    Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Perkins, a city commissioner since 2016, supports abolishing the contract with the Broward Sheriff’s Office in favor of a city police force.
    Lisa J. Huriash, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2024
Definition of abolishing
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near rubbing out

rubbing elbows (with)

rubbing out

rubbing the wrong way

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Cite this Entry

“Rubbing out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubbing%20out. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

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