1
as in destroyed
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
aerial bombs rubbed out the oil refinery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in assassinated
to put to death deliberately
an elaborate setup to rub out rival mobsters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in eradicated
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 rubbed out
But an Irish knock-on rubbed out a try for Jack Conan, and the second chance was turned over by Mann.
—
ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
No Mob boss, cheerfully decreeing that an inconvenient witness be rubbed out, could be more resolute.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
No Mob boss, cheerfully decreeing that an inconvenient witness be rubbed out, could be more resolute.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubbed out
Verb
-
First Baptist Dallas will break ground on its new sanctuary on Sunday, June 7, after a massive fire destroyed the church's 134-year-old sanctuary in the summer of 2024, the church announced on Sunday.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The diplomat also said that the IDF’s targeting of bridges along Lebanon’s Litani River has destroyed vital infrastructure connecting the south to the rest of the country.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
His efforts were greatly aided, Kirkpatrick reports, by the fact that so many of them feared for their lives—after several of their fellow-scientists had been assassinated in Israeli operations.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
While Senesh was hailed as a hero, Kastner was reviled and assassinated by his own countrymen for negotiating with the Nazis.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Although the Borrelia burgdorferi infection is typically eradicated by quick treatment, some individuals have persistent symptoms, which are referred to as Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome, according to the CDC.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Measles, once eradicated, has grown to 1,300 cases since an outbreak last year.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Of course, it’s been ruined now because of the Coldplay concert.—
Maria Bamford,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Not a great weekend for Cinderella Has NIL ruined the college game?—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The pain was particularly acute for worshippers who knew people who had been murdered or kidnapped by Hamas fighters.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Just months before launch, a white police officer murdered George Floyd in the streets of Minneapolis.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But while Maduro's ruling party remains in power, he has slowly been erased from the government of Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela's acting president.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
While Maduro’s ruling party remains in power, he has slowly been erased from the government of Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s acting president.—
Regina Garcia Cano,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
It was demolished to make way for a 7,000 square-foot gallery that opened in April 2022 at MCASD.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The building appears to have been demolished with twisted metal, bricks and other debris littering the site.—
Moriah Thomas,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Also in attendance was Randy Gardner, whose brother was the last person to be executed by firing squad in Utah, in 2010.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Investigators also executed a search warrant at the student's residence and seized several electronic devices, according to the sheriff's office.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rubbed out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubbed%20out. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
