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
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 rout
Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2026
The Red Storm overcame Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins’ early foul trouble to rout last-place Marquette, 92-68, at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2026
Bill Steiden, Des Moines Register, 24 Mar. 2026
Commentary and opinions Republicans fearing a midterm rout have revived Islamophobia as a political strategy, writes columnist Robin Abcarian.
—Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rout
Verb
Cassie Hall scored two of her three goals in the first period and Wisconsin went on to rout Minnesota 6-1.
—Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2026
The Red Storm overcame Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins’ early foul trouble to rout last-place Marquette, 92-68, at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2026
Noun
Iowans despised slavery, treasured 'radical experiment' Thirteen Iowans died and 141 were wounded in the rout of the Union forces at Wilson's Creek.
—Bill Steiden, Des Moines Register, 24 Mar. 2026
Commentary and opinions Republicans fearing a midterm rout have revived Islamophobia as a political strategy, writes columnist Robin Abcarian.
—Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rout
Verb
-
Bane overcame a slow start by making six of his first seven attempts at the free-throw line to reach 10 points after two quarters.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The Leafs overcame a 3-1 deficit with three goals in the third period, including Rielly's snap shot from the high slot that beat Anaheim goalie Ville Husso stick-side to give Toronto a 4-3 lead with three minutes left in regulation.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Kyle is just outing herself as a gossip and is distorting what everyone has to say to try to one-up Dorit in her own life.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The public quickly turned on The Sun for effectively outing Edwards.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For 10 minutes, Boyd took in the scene as the flags whipped above the center-field scoreboard, Cubs infielders took grounders and stadium workers finished final preparations before 39,712 fans streamed into the ballpark.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
This pizza has soppressata, whipped ricotta and drizzles of hot honey.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Her father, Bernard, had run away from his own parents at fourteen to chase his version of the American Dream.—
Zayd Ayers Dohrn,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
-
But there isn’t one collective goal for this team to chase over the next 17 days.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Blinken said the Democratic administrations considered military action but didn’t pursue it because Iran could retaliate and bury its nuclear program deeper underground.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Also stolen was a bronze plaque honoring the 18 unmarked graves of African Americans who were also buried there.—
Paul Burton,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
She was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Tremblay, her daughter said, was ejected from the plane upon impact and was thrown more than 300 feet — nearly the length of a football field — before slamming and skidding onto the tarmac.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Strait of Hormuz, on the other hand, is a natural waterway, and Tehran essentially wants to charge ships for the privilege of crossing it without being bombed.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
-
In recent days, Israel has hit apartment buildings in Beirut and bombed bridges over the Litani River in Lebanon's south.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Rename the file, banish it to some obscure folder.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Angels could be seen all around — some on the walls depicting Moses' life and death, and another above, on Michelangelo’s fresco, banishing Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rout. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
