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 designation would also prohibit federal agencies from destroying or modifying that habitat.
    Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
  • At its peak, the wildfire that ignited Monday expanded at an alarming rate, consuming an area larger than five football fields per minute and destroying at least seven structures.
    Hanna Park, Robert Shackelford and Mary Gilbert, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
Definition of destroying
Verb
  • Luigi Mangione, the man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, allegedly turned to the internet forum Reddit to discuss his own health problems.
    Lawrence Yee, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Bundy confessed to raping and murdering 30 women before his execution in 1989, although law enforcement officials believe the number is much higher.
    Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Definition of murdering
Verb
  • When news of the investigation became public, the price of the company’s stock plunged, erasing nearly $25 billion in shareholder value, according to the lawsuit.
    Amy Julia Harris, New York Times, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Christina Haack is one step closer to erasing Josh Hall permanently.
    Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 3 Dec. 2024
Definition of erasing
Verb
  • The project involves demolishing a great deal of real estate.
    David Moin, WWD, 11 Dec. 2024
  • They were made by each other by reverently mythologizing their history while also irreverently demolishing it to make way for whatever was new and next, like a postwar building that’s periodically renovated to keep up with trends.
    David LaChapelle, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2024
Definition of demolishing
Verb
  • But when this tournament comes to an end, the Bulls either have to change course or risk wrecking their plans completely.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 27 Nov. 2024
  • But his vision of wrecking Israel with the help of Iran and other proxy forces backfired badly.
    Alexander Smith, NBC News, 17 Oct. 2024
Definition of wrecking
Verb
  • The team responsible for executing the Executive Residence’s holiday look appears to be growing; in 2012, Michelle Obama welcomed 85 volunteers onto the premises to set the festive scene.
    Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 9 Dec. 2024
  • Look for companies willing to spend a lot of time building relationships with the people executing in other organizations.
    James Loffler, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Definition of executing
Verb
  • 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
  • Stein has called for abolishing student and medical debt.
    Margie Cullen, USA TODAY, 11 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 21 Dec. 2024.

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