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
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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
Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
Covenant Classical routs Weatherford Christian Fort Worth Covenant Classical got 17 points from Tate Mitchell to lead the Cavaliers to a 84-32 victory against Weatherford Christian in a TAPPS 1-3A game on Friday.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2026
Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026
The soldiers had little time to prepare; the retreat turned into a rout.
—Louis Menand, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rout
Verb
ZaKiyah Johnson scored 16 points, Mikaylah Williams added 12 and LSU bounced back from a midweek loss to rout Auburn.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
Covenant Classical routs Weatherford Christian Fort Worth Covenant Classical got 17 points from Tate Mitchell to lead the Cavaliers to a 84-32 victory against Weatherford Christian in a TAPPS 1-3A game on Friday.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
That included an 87-51 championship game rout of a very good Villages Charter team.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026
The soldiers had little time to prepare; the retreat turned into a rout.
—Louis Menand, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rout
Verb
-
The Timberwolves overcame a 15-point halftime deficit — the largest comeback in a Game 7 in NBA playoff history — behind Edwards, who had just four points, no rebounds and three assists at halftime but finished with 16 points, eight boards and seven assists.—
Anthony Bettin,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Even after struggling out of the gate with a 4-14 start, which was partially due to having to overcome Brandon Miller’s shoulder injury in the second game of the season, Charlotte stockpiled a 44-38 mark.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Until the day a fellow former boxer outed her.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The sisters, along with their husbands, joined King Charles at the royal family's traditional Christmas church outing in December.—
Stephanie Petit,
PEOPLE,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Canty is one of the coaches who whips students into shape.—
Terell Bailey,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Johnson whipped out his phone and shared a photo of Maivia with the audience, who applauded at the likeness.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some observers suggest that seekers aren’t chasing hollow shortcuts online.—
Lucy Jones
April 11,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The couple had spent the past decade sailing together, charting a life across open water — learning to scuba dive, chasing marine life and finding meaning in the quiet, in-between moments at sea.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Bishop acquired the property, intending to preserve the inactive cemetery as a memorial site for the military veterans buried there, some dating back to the Civil War.—
Nicole Comstock,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Three other Syrian relatives were also killed in the Ain Mreisseh strike and were buried on Saturday in the town of al-Shuhail in Deir el-Zour, after the family split upon returning to Syria.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The incident is similar to Starlink satellite 35956, which also experienced an anomaly in December involving the venting of a propulsion tank and some ejected debris.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The game was marred late when Pacers forward Jalen Slawson was ejected following a blindside collision with Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart, which resulted in a shouting match between the coaching staffs.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Iran’s enrichment capabilities have been reduced by bombing this year and last.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Lots of writers are funny, but no one ever said Toni Morrison bombed last night.—
Chris Rock,
Time,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
One is a search for stability, driven by a horror of chaos and by memories of the mayhem that wrecked his childhood and banished him to the cave.—
Michael Sheridan,
Vanity Fair,
8 Apr. 2026
-
While Vitello was banished to his office, the Giants lost a lot more than that.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rout. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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