drub

verb

Save Word

\ ˈdrəb

drubbed; drubbing

Definition of drub

transitive verb

1 : to beat severely

2 : to berate critically

3 : to defeat decisively

intransitive verb

: drum, stamp

Other Words from drub Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about drub

Keep scrolling for more

Did You Know?

Sportswriters often use drub, but the term's history reveals that it wasn't always a sporting word. When drub was first used in English, it referred to a method of punishment that involved beating the soles of a culprit's feet with a stick or cudgel. The term was apparently brought to England in the 17th century by travelers who reported observing the punitive practice in Asia. Etymologists are uncertain of the ultimate origin of drub, but some have speculated that it may have evolved from the Arabic word daraba, meaning "to beat."

Examples of drub in a Sentence

a crowd was drubbing the purse snatcher when the police arrived on the scene we drubbed our traditional football rivals so badly that it was basically no contest

Recent Examples on the Web Kevin Brown gives up five runs on five hits in the second inning and the San Francisco Giants go on to drub the Dodgers 9-2 on opening day. — John Scheibe, Los Angeles Times, "This day in sports: Angels beat Dodgers in walk-off in first meeting between teams," 2 Apr. 2020 Some Fox personalities quickly drubbed Mr. Barr for crossing the president. — Katie Benner, New York Times, "Barr Says Attacks From Trump Make Work ‘Impossible’," 13 Feb. 2020 The Scots have responded by beating Samoa 34-0 and then drubbing Russia, with 95 points scored and none conceded in their last two games. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Scotland breezes past Russia 61-0 to set up Japan showdown," 9 Oct. 2019 Oregon baseball avoided a four-game sweep in Hawaii by drubbing the host Warriors in Sunday’s series finale. — James Crepea | The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, "Brett Walker dominant on mound for Oregon Ducks baseball in blowout of Hawaii," 8 Mar. 2020 The man who drubbed him and his painful left shoulder out of the Open – 6-4, 7-5, 2-1 (retired) - was Stan Wawrinka, one of the toughest, hardest-hitting, big-hearted competitors in the sport – and one of the most talented, too. — Wayne Coffey, USA TODAY, "US Open: Stan Wawrinka 'big-matches player', seeks fourth Grand Slam to cap comeback," 2 Sep. 2019 By the time the Houston Rockets drubbed the Warriors on Thursday, Westbrook had taken the lead. — Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, "Houston Rockets' Russell Westbrook on league-leading 13th technical foul: 'I just think it's unfair'," 21 Feb. 2020 The Scots were ultra-disappointing to be drubbed 27-3 by their Six Nations rivals in Yokohama. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Scotland aims to make amends amid Samoa’s personnel problems," 28 Sep. 2019 The Scarlet Knights drubbed Seton Hall by 20 in mid-December. — Orion Sang, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan basketball makes statement with win at Rutgers," 20 Feb. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'drub.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.