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
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Recent Examples of rubout
Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
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
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
Noun
-
Matos is charged with murder, carjacking, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in personal injury.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
-
Directed by Hong Kong’s Frankie Tam, the film draws on Hong Kong’s first murder case solved entirely through forensic evidence and without eyewitness testimony.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
21 June 2026
Verb
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Both victims died in separate mobile homes that were destroyed about two to three miles apart, Bullard said.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
-
If Iran’s atomic weapons infrastructure was destroyed in this war, funneling hundreds of billions into the country can’t be used to rebuild it.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
He was invited by Malcolm X to stay in Harlem at the famous Hotel Theresa, where agents with ties to the FBI, CIA and the Mafia, plotted to assassinate him.—
Richard Johnson,
New York Daily News,
21 June 2026
-
Iran’s new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is regarded as even more of a hard-liner than his father, Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated, at eighty-six, by Israeli Air Force strikes.—
Ruth Margalit,
New Yorker,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Once established, the mollusks are extremely difficult to eradicate and can damage drinking water systems, irrigation infrastructure and hydroelectric facilities while disrupting native aquatic ecosystems.—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
-
This neighborhood plan mimics ones used to eradicate the insects on islands.—
Maggie Penman,
Washington Post,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Six homicide convictions There have been six homicide convictions in the seven fentanyl murder cases Gire’s prosecutors have filed since February 2022.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
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Riverside County homicide investigators have announced two arrests in connection with a homicide in May that left a 47-year-old man dead.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Don't Worry Too Much About Saltwater Or Chlorine Many people assume a quick swim in the ocean or pool will ruin their sunglasses.—
Gabi De la Rosa,
Southern Living,
20 June 2026
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Could the Boston Celtics or another team ruin the Heat’s plan, swooping in and trading for Antetokounmpo this offseason and getting a long-term commitment from him?—
Anthony Chiang
June 19,
Miami Herald,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Israel’s retaliatory military offensive in Gaza has killed 73,018 Palestinians, including those slain since the ceasefire, the Gaza Health Ministry said.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
-
Rhaenyra’s aunt, Rhaenys, is slain in the fight, and Aegon is mutilated, his own dragon left for dead on the field.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Verb
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The Lynx erased the Sparks’ 7-3 lead — fueled by quick starts from Burrell and Hamby.—
Jordan Puente,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
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But the improvement was not enough to erase the lead held by opponents, according to an analysis of vote updates monitored by The Bee over the past two weeks.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rubout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubout. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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