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
-
The revelation marks a new development in the dispute between ICE and Fairfax County, which have laid out dueling accounts explaining their previous encounters with Abdul Jalloh, a foreign national from West Africa charged with the murder of Virginia mother Stephanie Minter.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The spot where Gary Herbst's remains were discovered in Wisconsin in 2017 – four years after his murder.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One of his top aides, Saeed Ghasseminejad, has identified in interviews and on social media critical oil and gas infrastructure that could be destroyed in the war.—
Azadeh Moaveni,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
-
But a staggering series of misfortunes – an arsonist destroyed her rental house; the private equity firm that owned the house still demanded two months’ rent and kept her security deposit; she was diagnosed with ovarian and breast cancer – forced her into tenuous housing situations.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Hezbollah, for the longest time, was strong-arming other parties, and they are accused of assassinating a former Prime Minister.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Ali Larijani Ali Larijani, who was assassinated on March 17, 2026, was one of the Islamic Republic’s most experienced political insiders.—
Mehrzad Boroujerdi,
The Conversation,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The past year has seen the highest rates of measles since before the disease was eradicated in 2000, and the country may already have lost its measles-free status.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Legislation to create a rapid response program to eradicate the noxious invasive weed hydrilla, which has jumped from the Connecticut River to the state’s biggest lakes, received a positive reception at a public hearing at the legislature.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Investigators learned on Tuesday that Lickhart had died from her injuries, and homicide detectives took over the case, DiMartino said.—
Nathan Pilling
March 17,
Kansas City Star,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The suspect and victim in a homicide case in east Charlotte last week were dating, according to an affidavit filed in court by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police.—
Ryan Oehrli,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Now, months later, residents say the gunfire has shattered their peace, ruining quiet strolls and sunsets on the neighborhood’s lakes.—
Christopher Spata,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Everything looked incredible… until the teams started playing and ruined it a bit.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Spoiler alert on this 400-year-old novel, but Don Quixote doesn't actually slay any giants or rescue any princesses.—
Meg Anderson,
NPR,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Merrimack did not slay the giant last week only to open the door for someone else to make it to the Hockey East championship game.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That’s why our testers—spanning a wide range of skin types, ages, and skin concerns—have spent months determining which products actually deliver on their fine-line-smoothing and dark-circle-erasing promises.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2026
-
In terms of sheer duration, nothing tops the 1994-95 strike, a 232-day encounter between immovable object and unstoppable force that erased a total of 948 games and led to the cancellation of the World Series.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rubout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubout. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
