rubout 1 of 2

noun

Definition of ruboutnext
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

rub out

2 of 2

verb

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

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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
Noun
Investigators suspect Robinson wanted the rubout. — Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
The News started a morning edition to rub out its competitor. — Tim Kiska, Detroit Free Press, 21 Dec. 2024 Apply additional pressure while attempting to rub out these stains, but don't go crazy. — Gia Yetikyel, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2024 See All Example Sentences for rubout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubout
  1. murder
  2. destroy
  3. assassinate
  4. eradicate
  5. homicide
  6. ruin
  7. slay
  8. erase
Noun
  • Days before the mistrial, prosecutors dismissed first-degree murder charges against the two men after jurors deadlocked a first time.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Armour invoked the murder of Emmett Till while connecting the controversy to America’s history of White women portraying Black people as threats.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of murder
Verb
  • Although much of the population in Java converted to Islam and Borobudur was abandoned, it was not destroyed.
    — Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Careers are destroyed, lawsuits follow, and administrators calculate their exposure.
    — Zain Khalid, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of destroy
Verb
  • The 21-year-old Michigan State senior is also head of the local chapter of Turning Point, the group for young conservatives whose founder, Charlie Kirk, was assassinated last year.
    — Jacqueline Ganun, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026
  • On July 7, 2021, Moïse was assassinated inside his second-floor bedroom.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of assassinate
Verb
  • Swaminarayan monks, who practice the eightfold version, see it as an important way to help eradicate all traces of desire and remain singularly focused on God.
    — Bhakti Mamtora, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Community meetings focus on eradicating the homeless and protecting property values rather than supporting neighbors or providing shelter.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of eradicate
Noun
  • Prison authorities are investigating the incident as a homicide, and the Office of the Inspector General has been notified, according to CDCR.
    — Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Traffic homicide investigators are responding at the scene and will continue to gather information throughout the day.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of homicide
Verb
  • On Monday, workers hauled out a 200-pound piece of equipment that was ruined by the saltwater and sand carried in on the high tides.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
  • So our goal is to learn how to maximize AI budgets, not ration them and ruin productivity gains.
    — Konstantin Klyagin, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of ruin
Verb
  • And then the game starts, the nerves dissipate, and the opponent is methodically slayed.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
  • As global markets demanded higher performance thresholds, Gaydon answered with the ferocious Aston Martin DBX707, a high-velocity machine with premium luxury credentials plus supercar-slaying straight-line velocity.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of slay
Verb
  • By naming the product of two mergers Skydance, David Ellison relegates two of Hollywood’s founding studios to a sub-brand stew and attempts to erase a bunch of controversial hires.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • First among this unsung cohort are the women of the march, who have been all but erased from the record.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of erase

Browse Nearby Words

rubicund
rubout
rub out
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rubout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubout. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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