as in throngs
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
Relevance
1
as in defeats
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 escapes
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 bombs
to defeat by a large margin
as expected, the professional team had no trouble routing the amateurs
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in outs
to drive or force out
the nation's ground and air forces quickly routed the would-be invaders
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of routs
La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
Let the home routs and the Albertsons Stadium invincibility continue.
—Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 28 Sep. 2025
Yes, the Fed might be able to step in judiciously to prevent retreats from turning into routs.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 21 Sep. 2025
That the show is a food-star factory is not exactly in the spirit of the bake-offs that inspired it, which were vicious routs among just-above-average home bakers, for almost no measurable reward.
—Ruby Tandoh, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
McClymonds routs Oakland Tech in Silver Bowl, dedicates championship to former Skyline and Laney football coach John Beam, who was shot and killed last week.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 23 Nov. 2025
Noun
High school football in La Jolla this week was a tale of two routs — one on the positive side and the other not so much.
—La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
Let the home routs and the Albertsons Stadium invincibility continue.
—Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 28 Sep. 2025
Yes, the Fed might be able to step in judiciously to prevent retreats from turning into routs.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 21 Sep. 2025
That the show is a food-star factory is not exactly in the spirit of the bake-offs that inspired it, which were vicious routs among just-above-average home bakers, for almost no measurable reward.
—Ruby Tandoh, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
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
McClymonds routs Oakland Tech in Silver Bowl, dedicates championship to former Skyline and Laney football coach John Beam, who was shot and killed last week.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 23 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for routs
Verb
-
If Venezuela and its region instead spiral into chaos and suffering, Trump will merely look like a bully, a president who cowers when facing the mighty — in Moscow or Beijing, say — but bombs those who can’t return fire, whether in Nigeria, Yemen or Venezuela.—
Andreas Kluth,
Boston Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Above, South Lake Tahoe ripper Emma Dayberry bombs through Kirkwood’s fabled Finger chutes, a quick traverse off of the Cornice Express six-pack chairlift.—
Drew Zieff,
Outside,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In retaliation, Sir Jimmy outs Kelson as a phony with a fatal stab to the gut, though that’s not enough to save his own life.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But Tan’s comment buries the lede.—
Peter Cohan,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The painter spends hours drawing sketches of the corpse, then chops up her body, arranges the pieces in a suitcase and buries it with the help of an old man sitting under a cypress tree.—
Amir Ahmadi Arian,
The Dial,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Next to Pika Pika Paradise is a colorful birthday cake filled with Alcremie, and a Kangaskhan and Dragonite battle as a Fidough chases Eevees nearby.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2026
-
One child chases the duck, catches it, and stomps on it repeatedly.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When a dog repeatedly wags and whips its tail against hard surfaces, the tip can split open, bruise or break.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Benbrook whips Diamond Hill-Jarvis Benbrook stayed on pace for a playoff berth in District 8-4A as the Lady Bobcats thumped Fort Worth Diamond Hill-Jarvis 55-7.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Results published in Nature show that cells use bioelectricity to coordinate a complex collective behavior called extrusion, a vital process that ejects sick or struggling individual cells from tissue to maintain health and keep growth in check.—
Elise Cutts,
Quanta Magazine,
12 Jan. 2026
-
If the battery overheats, the system acts like a launcher; sensors trigger a mechanism that ejects it from the vehicle.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Auburn overcomes a 14-point deficit in the first half and race past the Longhorns behind 31 points from Keyshawn Hall.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Jan. 2026
-
By placing wind turbines in the air, this overcomes land use pressures and also makes the technology more flexible for places like cities.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Yet this gloss dismisses something that might be better understood as a guiding principle, and suggests that criticism of Israel is an idealist’s liability rather than a stance with growing support among Democratic voters.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Leadership that dismisses or undermines inclusion inflicts real harm on students, faculty, and staff.—
Wanda James,
Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Routs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/routs. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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