1
as in to overcome
to defeat by a large margin
as expected, the professional team had no trouble routing the amateurs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to out
to drive or force out
the nation's ground and air forces quickly routed the would-be invaders
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in defeat
failure to win a contest
the championship game was a humiliating rout for the team that had been favored to win
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in escape
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement
in the mad rout from the school shooter, it was every person for himself
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in throng
a great number of persons or creatures massed together
a great rout of rubberneckers had gathered around the scene of the accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in populace
people looked down upon as ignorant and of the lowest class
at first the protests were dismissed as nothing more than the idle doings of the restless rout
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rout
Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
However, the host 49ers rebounded to rout Miami, who had entered the game 8-3.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
Michael Russo, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
The midterm elections that followed saw Democrats recapture a majority in the House of Representatives in a 41-seat rout of the GOP.
—David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rout
Verb
Dean Smith collects his 700th career coaching victory as North Carolina routs Maryland 105-73.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
However, the host 49ers rebounded to rout Miami, who had entered the game 8-3.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
Noun
First-period frustration When Quinn Hughes took a Miller feed in the slot and snapped off a perfect shot into the upper-right corner of the net, the rout appeared to be on.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
The midterm elections that followed saw Democrats recapture a majority in the House of Representatives in a 41-seat rout of the GOP.
—David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rout
Verb
-
France’s Eric Perrot overcame a wobble on the final shoot and a late surge from Norway’s Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen to win a sensational first men’s relay gold medal for his country today.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
17 Feb. 2026
-
While most fungal attempts at infection fail, a small number do succeed thanks to the constant evolutionary pressure on pathogens to overcome host plant defenses.—
Lily Peck,
The Conversation,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Of course, these posts outing Khan as a potential Twitter troll—this time anonymously as compared to the troll activity on his own account—led to harassing tweets from pro-AEW accounts.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The San Jose State controversy initially gained traction in conservative media outlets, including the website Reduxx, which outed the athlete before the 2024 season.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
It’s inspired by a French silk pie, but without any eggs to whip.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
12 Feb. 2026
-
For season 1 of The Boss, InStyle Editor in Chief Sally Holmes taps Julia Fox (Uncut Gems, Him, The Moment) as the Temporary-Permanent Ambassador of Slayage in an effort to whip the InStyle team’s style into shape ahead of New York Fashion Week.—
InStyle Editors,
InStyle,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Aljorna, the affidavit claimed, hit a light pole before fleeing from the car, with an ICE agent chasing him on foot toward the home.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
-
An immigration officer chased Aljorna who, according to the government, violently resisted arrest.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Only one body was identified by a family, while the others were buried on Friday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
In a report published this month in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, a team from the Australian National University examined the tooth enamel of three individuals buried at the Dong Xa Iron Age burial site in Northern Vietnam.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Canada’s Tom Wilson and French player Pierre Crinon were ejected for fighting in Canada’s win on Sunday.—
Fernanda Figueroa,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The 39-year-old actor was ejected from a Royal Street business after causing a disturbance, according to police.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The war ended after NATO bombed Serbia for 78 days in 1999, eventually forcing it to pull out its troops from the territory.—
Zana Cimili,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The suspects who bombed the office of Alex Odeh have long been identified by the FBI, and while one was imprisoned for unrelated crimes, the other two have been living comfortably in Israel for many years.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Who got banished on 'The Traitors'?—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Imagine banishing stuffed animals from the living room, corralling all the toy cars outside the main bedroom, and finally finding a place for that play kitchen that isn’t your actual kitchen.—
Amelia Mularz,
Architectural Digest,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rout. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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