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
No Mob boss, cheerfully decreeing that an inconvenient witness be rubbed out, could be more resolute.
—
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubbed out
Verb
-
Among them was Eilene Oken, 38, who walked through what used to be her neighbourhood, only to find her home completely destroyed.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Just under two million Palestinians—virtually the entire population of Gaza—have been displaced since October 2023, many repeatedly, and Israeli forces have damaged or destroyed more than 90 percent of homes in the Strip.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Kirk was assassinated while at an event at the campus of Utah Valley University in September.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Kirk was assassinated last month at Utah Valley University.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The country has also eradicated once-rampant tropical diseases like malaria.—
Angelica Ang,
Fortune,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The New World screwworm was successfully eradicated from the United States in 1966.—
Lori Ann LaRocco,
CNBC,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
However her past experiences haven't ruined the actress' trips back home.—
Ralphie Aversa,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
That’s why his mistress threw in with Frank to intimidate Dale into a land deal that would have ruined any chance of Chutto’s family ever getting their land back.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Brady is also working with Kudos to adapt The Other Half, Charlotte Vassell’s novel about an ambitious young detective investigating the death of a posh socialite, found murdered on Hampstead Heath.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Paul had been charged with three felony counts, including boating under the influence, and was awaiting trial when he was murdered.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The drop in SoftBank shares has erased nearly $50 billion in market cap over two days.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
-
For a long time, scientists thought this giant collision erased all signs of what Earth was originally made of.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Bonner's father worked at the Product Development Center — part of which Bonner demolished to make way for the new World Headquarters building.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The ballroom project has stirred controversy, as the East Wing, home of the First Lady’s staff and long a grand entrance for White House events, was demolished to make room for the new ballroom.—
Kate Wolffe
October 30,
Sacbee.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Villages have been burned, civilians executed, and children targeted.—
Kim Aris,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
-
In January 2014, nearly 70 years after George was executed, a judge held a two-day hearing, which included testimony from three of George’s surviving siblings, members of the search party and several experts.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rubbed out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubbed%20out. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share