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
Examples Sentences
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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
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Willard was later found guilty of murder, while a jury determined Robinson was not guilty in Jackson’s death, according to local WRTV.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
26 Jan. 2025
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At the time of the murders, Kohberger was studying for a Ph.D. in criminology at nearby Washington State University, about 10 miles across the state line.—
Michael Ruiz,
Fox News,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In turn, Jod destroyed the Supervisor, shutting down the safety droids and causing a blackout in the city.—
Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell,
Newsweek,
15 Jan. 2025
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Some 12,000 structures — buildings and cars — have been destroyed so far, and with them many tons of property of all levels of sentimental meaning.—
Steven Zeitchik,
The Hollywood Reporter,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The tradition of a national day of mourning following the death of a notable public figure began in the U.S. after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, according to The New York Times.—
Natalie Wallington,
Kansas City Star,
9 Jan. 2025
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After President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, the New York Stock Exchange closed for days.—
Maria Aspan,
NPR,
9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The theory holds that a community that rids itself of petty crime, such as shoplifting, vandalism and trespassing, can eradicate more serious crime because criminals won’t have anywhere to hide.—
JULIE K. BROWN,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2025
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Its achievements include eradicating smallpox and bringing polio to the brink of elimination.—
Raul A. Reyes,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Anyone with information about the death of the bar patron Saturday night can contact the Sheriff’s Office’s homicide unit at 858-285-6330 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers’ anonymous tip line at 888-580-8477.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2025
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Wiggins faces a homicide charge, and his girlfriend faces charges of burglary and being an accessory after the fact, online jail records show.—
Michael McGough,
Sacramento Bee,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Sign up » Nonfiction In the past fifteen years, an avalanche of literature has been published about how technology has ruined our attention spans.—
The New Yorker,
The New Yorker,
22 Jan. 2025
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Miami Herald,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Putin cannot slay inflation because Russian interest rates are already at a whopping 21%, and the Russian ruble is collapsing.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
TIME,
23 Jan. 2025
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With Mikko camped out to his right midway through the second stanza, Makar beat DeSmith glove-side with a wrister from the blue line for his 100th career goal, slaying the Avs’ power-play dragon and becoming the fastest active defenseman in the NHL to hit the century mark as a pro.—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Nearby Altadena, a historically largely Black neighborhood, has essentially been erased from the map.—
Meagan Jordan,
Rolling Stone,
15 Jan. 2025
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The odds are that the response will sit in an internal digital memory buffer for a while and not be immediately erased or discarded.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
15 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near rubout
Cite this Entry
“Rubout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubout. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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