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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rubout
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
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
See all Example Sentences for rubout 
Verb
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
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
See all Example Sentences for rubout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubout
Noun
-
Davis has pleaded not guilty to the murder and gang enhancement charges.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA TODAY,
20 Feb. 2025
-
The defense meanwhile argued O’Keefe was killed inside the home and taken back outside while Read, a financial analyst and adjunct professor at Bentley College, was framed for the murder.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The Eaton fire happened on Jan. 7 and Allen’s house was destroyed, along with that of his assistant.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2025
-
In addition to Meester and Brody, Cameron Mathison, Anna Faris, Ricki Lake, Cary Elwes and Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag were among the stars who confirmed that their homes were also destroyed.—
Stephanie Wenger,
People.com,
8 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Indeed, in Jordan, Palestinians assassinated a king and attempted to overthrow the government.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
7 Feb. 2025
-
Mujibur Rahman and most of his family were assassinated at the house in 1975.—
Reuters,
NBC News,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
President Donald Trump vowed to eradicate any signs of former President Joe Biden in his Department of Justice on Tuesday night.—
Ross O'Keefe,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
19 Feb. 2025
-
Agency supporters told Democratic senators earlier this week that the shutdown — along with other administration steps, including revoking USAID’s lease on its Washington headquarters — was really about eradicating USAID before lawmakers or the courts could stop it.—
Ellen Knickmeyer,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
After reviewing the police investigation, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved one count of reckless homicide, a Class 3 felony, against Lopez, Barrington police said.—
Pioneer Press,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2025
-
Her death was ruled a homicide, with the cause of death confirmed to be strangulation and blunt-force injuries to the head and neck.—
Lissete Lanuza Sáenz,
StyleCaster,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Ancient people weren't about to let these pests ruin their crops or their lives.—
Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi,
Discover Magazine,
14 Feb. 2025
-
The film ends with Ross going full Red Hulk in the White House Rose Garden (oops), nearly ruining his legacy (Sterns’ real prize) and ultimately forcing him to admit his wrongdoing, give up his office, and head to The Raft to serve an undetermined amount of time in the floating prison.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The Kennedy Center, named after slain former President John F. Kennedy, was the brain-child of Kennedy's predecessor, Dwight Eisenhower, according to the center's website.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA TODAY,
15 Feb. 2025
-
The Ethiopian crosses symbolize eternal life and connection, and given that a sanctuary is a place for refuge and safety and holiness, Makonnen’s artwork provides some semblance of that for the spirits of the fallen and slain after their lives have ended.—
Shantay Robinson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Those odds dropped slowly with each game Ovechkin missed due to a fractured left fibula until all progress from his hot streak was erased.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
The Athletic,
7 Feb. 2025
-
That’s surrender — to the idea that this is a zero-sum war where one side must be erased for the other to survive.—
Hen Mazzig,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near rubout
Cite this Entry
“Rubout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubout. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share