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
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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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of rubout
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
The resort can arrange a local masseuse to rub out all that daring inside the comfort of your cabin.
—Rina Nehdar, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2022
The man, Eric Charles Maund, whose family runs Volkswagen and Toyota dealerships in and around Austin, is alleged to have hired the trio to rub out Holly Williams, 33, and William Lanway, 36, in March 2020, police and prosecutors said.
—NBC News, 13 Dec. 2021
See all Example Sentences for rubout 
Verb
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
The resort can arrange a local masseuse to rub out all that daring inside the comfort of your cabin.
—Rina Nehdar, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2022
The man, Eric Charles Maund, whose family runs Volkswagen and Toyota dealerships in and around Austin, is alleged to have hired the trio to rub out Holly Williams, 33, and William Lanway, 36, in March 2020, police and prosecutors said.
—NBC News, 13 Dec. 2021
See all Example Sentences for rubout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubout
Noun
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That changed in February, when the state located the necessary drugs and planned to execute Thomas Creech, who was convicted of five murders in three states.Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
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Additionally, authorities say Gonzalez-Nunez associated himself with Norteño gang members who were responsible for murders around the area.Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Approximately 40 firefighters responded to the blaze, which was first reported at 11:43 a.m., destroyed one building, damaged at least three others, and downed utility wires along 17th Street.Ryan Macasero, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
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The fire destroyed an apartment building near Ammons Street and West 12th Avenue, killing two cats and displacing four people, according to West Metro Fire Rescue.Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
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In Munich, demobilized soldiers, right-wing paramilitaries, and Communist militants fought in the streets, while leaders of the new Weimar Republic were routinely assassinated.George Packer, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
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The year after Lincoln was assassinated by slavery supporter John Wilkes Booth, strip-mining of coal got started in Lincoln’s home state of Illinois.Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Five came from teams that posted losing records, leading to bad tendencies that need to be eradicated as quickly as possible.Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024
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She's violated her oath, eradicated our sovereign border, and unleashed an army of gangs and criminal migrants from prisons and jails.NBC News, NBC News, 3 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Kamp previously worked as a shift commander, gang enforcement sergeant and homicide detective for the Phoenix Police Department.Jimmy Jenkins, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
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IndyStar is tracking homicides to better understand violence in the city.Jade Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Lobby group Family Business UK said tens of thousands of family-run businesses and farms will be ruined by this change due to lower levels of inheritance tax relief.Marc Shoffman, theweek, 6 Nov. 2024
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The ground floors of thousands of homes have been ruined.Hernán Muñoz and Joseph Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Listen to this article Merrillville man acquitted in Gary drug deal slaying Michael Baker was acquitted Friday in the Jan. 21, 2023 murder of Demetri Russell, 29.Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2024
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The sleepy spot actually holds a chilling history dating back to 1912, when two adults, Josiah and Sarah Moore, and six children were brutally slain in what is now known as the Villisca Ax Murder House.Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Harris erased Trump’s lead over Biden since announcing her candidacy on July 21, though her edge has decreased over the past two months, peaking at 3.7 points in late August, according to FiveThirtyEight’s weighted polling average.Sara Dorn, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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But the therapy cannot erase the genetic predisposition many patients have for the disease, says Donald Thomas, a rheumatologist in Maryland.Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near rubout
Cite this Entry
“Rubout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubout. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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