rubbed out

Definition of rubbed outnext
past tense of rub out
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubbed out
Verb
  • Hefner said the photos should be destroyed.
    City News Service, Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
  • And in the late 1980s, after Little Saigon found official recognition, freeway and street signs directing people to the community were frequently defaced and destroyed in disapproval, Hua said.
    Victoria Le, Oc Register, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • This week in literary history, Malcolm X is assassinated in New York City.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Just days after lawmakers finished business, House DFL leader and former speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were assassinated at their Brooklyn Park home.
    Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • This is something that should be eradicated from the world of football.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
  • The outbreaks have mostly impacted children and have come as infectious disease experts warn that rising public distrust of vaccines generally may be contributing to the spread of a disease once declared eradicated by public health officials.
    Matt Brown, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • These liberals have ruined this state.
    DP Opinion, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Simple fasting from food can be ruined — rendered not pleasing to Allah — if spoiled by telling lies, slander, denouncing someone behind his back, swearing a false oath, greed or covetousness.
    The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • And Hila Abir, the sister of Lotan Abir, also murdered at the Nova festival, spoke at the Knesset hearing.
    Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Families were ripped apart, with most, including mothers with children and the elderly, sent straight to death in gas chambers that at their peak murdered 6,000 people a day.
    Lesley Stahl, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Because sticking with the plan was optional, many workers withdrew their money early, which mostly erased any long-term gains.
    Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Since then, silver prices have pulled back sharply, trading around $76 per ounce as of mid-February, following a selloff that erased nearly half the metal's value.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Even if there were sites that did not get preserved, or were demolished, there were debates over whether that should happen.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Willowcreek Middle School will remain until its replacement is ready for use, then demolished to make way for the rest of the project.
    Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Talik Rashaun Garcia, 36, was arrested following a search warrant at an apartment on Peterborough Street, executed by officers from the Boston Police and Mass State Police, BPD said in a statement.
    Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Evidence from two search warrants executed last week in connection with the Guthrie investigation is still being processed, the sheriff's department said today.
    Liz Kreutz, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Rubbed out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubbed%20out. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.

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