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
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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
-
OpenAI is now facing seven wrongful-death lawsuits, which allege that ChatGPT prompted several suicides and a murder.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Using the text as a base, this piece tells the story of an unlikely bond — a ship’s Captain harboring a stowaway accused of murder —through a mix of words, dance, music, sound, and art installation.—
Jed Gottlieb,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Toxins build up and start to destroy the kidneys and liver.—
Jerome Groopman,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Renowned for its beauty and ability to attract butterflies, butterfly bush (Buddleia) can spread quickly and outcompete and destroy native plants.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In September, Charlie Kirk, Turning Point’s founder, had been assassinated by a gunman at Utah Valley University.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Haiti was plunged into crisis in 2021, when mercenaries assassinated President Jovenel Moise.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His statement threatening to eradicate an entire civilization shocks the conscience and requires a decisive congressional response.—
Eric McDaniel,
NPR,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Our hope is that, over time, this app will help eradicate bad brushing habits to improve our overall dental health.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That compares to four homicides at this point last year.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Investigators say they were struck by a driver who now faces multiple charges, including homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence.—
Jim McHugh,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Talley went long with an 8-iron into a back bunker on the 12th, the hole that ruined Jordan Spieth's chances of a repeat Masters victory in 2016.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The multiple mistresses ruined his image; the countless injuries derailed his golf game.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The targeting of the three journalists comes two days after the killing of the photojournalist/camera operated Hussain Hamood, and nine days following the killing of Al-Manar head of programming Mohammed Sherri, who was slain in an Israeli strike in central Beirut.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
28 Mar. 2026
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During the national anthem Friday, the Iranian team honored the memory of the slain children by placing small pink and purple school backpacks in front of them.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After Jake Cronenworth walked to start the sixth and was erased on Ramón Laureano’s fielder’s choice grounder, Tatis grounded a single through the left side to give the Padres runners at first and second.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
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Those charges were ultimately dropped and were supposed to be erased from public disclosure, the lawsuit said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rubout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubout. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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