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
-
Francisco Javier Sanchez-Juarez, 28, and Jeffrey Josue Diaz, 24, are charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in connection to the incident.—
Racquel Bazos,
Baltimore Sun,
1 July 2025
-
Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office homicide detectives, who took over the case from Florida City police, booked Fisher into Metro West Detention Center on a second-degree murder charge.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
In September 2024, the same month as the pager attack and assassination of Hezbollah’s leader, Israel launched the most extensive campaign of airstrikes in the air force’s history hitherto, destroying much of Hezbollah’s strategic surface-to-surface missile stockpiles.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Grossi acknowledged that some of the uranium already enriched by Iranian scientists could have been destroyed as part of the attack.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
30 June 2025
Verb
-
Israeli intelligence also probed the possibility of assassinating Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but President Donald Trump reportedly called off a hit on the Iranian supreme leader.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
28 June 2025
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The daughter of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been accused of corruption, misusing public funds, and threatening to assassinate former ally and current president Ferdinand Marcos Jr.—
Cecilia Hult,
Fortune,
28 June 2025
Verb
-
Davis has partnered with multiple programs to eradicate childhood hunger in the U.S. and recently launched the Davis-Tennon Foundation.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
30 June 2025
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Vaccines eradicated smallpox and dramatically reduced infant deaths from measles, tuberculosis, whooping cough, and tetanus.—
Kelsey Piper,
Vox,
27 June 2025
Noun
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After news of the homicides spread nationally, Johnson and Alandt left town to ensure their own safety.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
1 July 2025
-
Anyone with information can contact state police’s homicide unit at 443-233-0989.—
Racquel Bazos,
Baltimore Sun,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
And just like that, Donald Trump ruined something else.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
26 June 2025
-
However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Daniella Segura,
Sacbee.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
-
Smith, a 21-year-old junior from Germantown, Tennessee, was slain on the street outside a bar in Fort Worth’s West 7th entertainment district.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 June 2025
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From upscale dinners, business lunches, to fun nights with your girls at the concerts, and attending inspiring ESSENCE panels at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, these versatile outfits will easily take you from day to night, while slaying everyone in New Orleans.—
Dominique Fluker,
Essence,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
Federal climate science is being systematically erased.—
Matthew Glasser,
ABC News,
1 July 2025
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The Human Constant Technological revolutions do not erase the need for human judgment.—
Solange Charas,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rubout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubout. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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