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
ABC News, 12 May 2026
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
Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 11 June 2026
Scott Wedman sinks four three-point field goals without a miss and shot 11-for-11 overall from the field, both NBA Finals records, as Boston routs the Lakers 148-114 in Game 1.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 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
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
Oklahoma City went 8-0 against LeBron James and the Lakers this season — and the defending champs are also 8-0 in these playoffs after back-to-back routs of Phoenix and Los Angeles.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
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
Often the highest lines will be for matches that are expected to be routs.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 11 June 2026
Scott Wedman sinks four three-point field goals without a miss and shot 11-for-11 overall from the field, both NBA Finals records, as Boston routs the Lakers 148-114 in Game 1.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 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
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
Noun
-
After the final buzzer confirmed the Knicks' 94-90 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at Texas' Frost Bank Center on Saturday, June 13, throngs of people sporting blue and orange flocked to the streets of all five boroughs.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
14 June 2026
-
Friday’s watch party attracted throngs of revelers to MSG, but also brought some chaos to Midtown, with 26 people arrested for a variety of offenses, from assault to selling counterfeit merchandise to climbing on top of light poles, food vendor carts and subway entrances.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
France ended the Seleção’s campaign in the 2006 quarterfinals, the Netherlands did so in 2010, Germany inflicted one of the most infamous defeats in the sport’s history in 2014 – a 7-1 drubbing that had fans crying in the stands – and quarterfinal exits followed again in 2018 and 2022.—
Emile Nuh,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
-
Beginning at Italia ’90, when Team USA was unceremoniously dumped out of its first World Cup with three consecutive defeats, this slice of stars-and-stripes nostalgia then charts the buildup to its first time as host.—
Jon O'Brien,
Vulture,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Still, youthful rebellion in virtual reality looks great and the concept of online escapes resonates in an increasingly intense real world.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
-
And while the women of Chinatown’s faraway past may have daydreamed and even plotted their escapes, See keeps going back.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
The campus is eerily silent, even as Israel attacks Lebanon and the United States bombs Iran.—
Jonathan Zimmerman,
Chicago Tribune,
9 June 2026
-
The United States bombs Iran's nuclear facilities days later.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA Today,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Ezekiel Richardson outs himself as a spy for the Continental Army to Claire.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Luckily, the king’s favorite wife, Esther, outs herself as Jewish.—
Betsy Andrews,
Saveur,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
More than four years since the start of Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine, the more than 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line has remained largely static as swarms of drones hinder advances.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 June 2026
-
More than four years since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the more than 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line has remained largely static as swarms of drones hinder advances.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
That stint came to an end in April, though, following friendly losses to Egypt and Serbia.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
-
That has gotten him through all of the losses.—
Spencer Nusbaum,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
In April, American Airlines tightened restrictions on portable chargers that passengers can bring on flights.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
-
Airlines typically buy fuel in advance, adjust their schedules gradually and price tickets based heavily on demand, meaning lower oil and jet fuel prices can take weeks or months to get factored into the cost of commercial flights.—
Mae Anderson,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Routs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/routs. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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