as in murder
the intentional and unlawful taking of another person's life
the mafia boss ordered a rubout as casually as you might order a pizza
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to destroy
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
aerial bombs rubbed out the oil refinery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to assassinate
to put to death deliberately
an elaborate setup to rub out rival mobsters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to eradicate
to destroy all traces of
a promise to rub out the city's drug trade
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 rubout
Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
Gia Yetikyel, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2024
Even so, the line about YB is specific enough to stay, since the suspects are accused of conspiring to rub out his killer, Cogan stated.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 24 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for rubout
Noun
Investigators suspect Robinson wanted the rubout.
—Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
Apply additional pressure while attempting to rub out these stains, but don't go crazy.
—Gia Yetikyel, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2024
Even so, the line about YB is specific enough to stay, since the suspects are accused of conspiring to rub out his killer, Cogan stated.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 24 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for rubout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubout
Noun
-
Emails obtained by Fox 5 DC and WJLA-TV show that the Fairfax County Police Department had warned Descano’s office multiple times about Jalloh in the months leading up to Minter’s murder.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
-
She is charged with murder and criminal obstruction of breathing.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The port has already planted acres of mangroves and sea grass and donated the land to the state of Florida to offset the habitat that would be destroyed during dredging.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The reasons for this cautious response are many, ranging from the precarious diplomatic implications of the conflict, disruptions to its energy security, and the embarrassing implications of allowing an ally to be destroyed.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Franco is the sister of Marielle Franco, a Rio councilwoman, feminist and human rights activist who was assassinated in 2018.—
Eléonore Hughes,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Since the United States assassinated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani in 2020, Iran has attempted even more attacks.—
Colin P. Clarke,
The Atlantic,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And finally, externally, impacts from objects passing through our inner Solar System could wipe all of humanity out, just as so much terrestrial life was eradicated 65 million years ago.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Orange County sprays herbicides to eradicate vegetation in flood control channels.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Fort Worth police homicide investigators determined a large group of people were gathered in the parking lot outside a warehouse on Northwest 35th Street when a fight broke out and shots were fired early Sunday, police have said.—
Amy McDaniel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Officers searched the Downtown Commons area near the Yard House restaurant and a Holiday Inn as homicide detectives and crime scene investigators processed the scene.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
People suffer and the country becomes ruined.—
Marc Weingarten,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Anti-Chafe Stick With sweaty bodies and lots of walking often comes chafing, something that can ruin a day in a theme park faster than a thunderstorm.—
Terri Peters,
Parents,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The farewell ceremony for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been postponed, Iran’s state media is reporting.—
Matt Nighswander,
NBC news,
4 Mar. 2026
-
One person was killed and two more wounded in a shooting down the block from the grand opening of a restaurant tied to slain Southern California rapper Nipsey Hussle.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Islanders had erased 2-0 deficits in each of their last three wins, but the Ducks kept them off the board in part by killing three penalties in the second period.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The Tigers erased an 11-point halftime deficit in the third quarter, knotting the contest at 33-33 before running out of gas — just as Bama was mashing the pedal to the floor.—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rubout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubout. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
