RUBBED OUT Synonyms: 211 Similar and Opposite Words

rubbed out

verb

past tense of rub out

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

as in assassinated

to put to death deliberately an elaborate setup to rub out rival mobsters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in eradicated

to destroy all traces of a promise to rub out the city's drug trade

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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 This treacherous gang has phenomenally rubbed out many signatures of independence in a very short time. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 14 June 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubbed out

Verb

Forces also destroyed a third vessel, the M/T Kylo near the Gulf of Oman.

— Gabrielle Khoriaty, NBC news, 5 Sep. 2026
And, as Europe has felt more threatened by Russian incursions, a week ago NATO fighter jets destroyed a drone near Romania’s natural gas projects in the Black Sea.

— Jordan Blum, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of destroyed

Verb

The program tonight will include a tribute to the late republican activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated one year ago, and an observance of the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, which is Friday.

— Tamara Keith, NPR, 10 Sep. 2026
Loosely based on an unfinished novel by Federico García Lorca, a writer assassinated during the Spanish Civil War, the film explores the lives of three gay men in three time periods.

— A.A. Dowd, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of assassinated

Verb

Magnus had almost entirely eradicated the type of commentary that divided fans along political and racial lines.

— Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
The sighting also is evidence, advocates say, of the legal protections that have helped gray wolves recover after they were nearly eradicated from the state.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of eradicated

Verb

However, with that beauty comes the need to clean these tiles properly so that the finish isn’t be ruined.

— Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 5 Sep. 2026
The fight between a small Georgia community and tech giant Meta has escalated this week after four families filed a lawsuit against the company alleging a central Georgia data center project has contaminated their water and ruined their home values.

— Irene Wright, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of ruined

Verb

When Thorwald’s wife is nowhere to be seen the next day, Jeff is convinced that Thorwald murdered and dismembered her.

— David Faris, TheWeek, 14 Sep. 2026
And though the plot of Kidman’s abusive boyfriend Jimmy Angelov (played by Goran Visnjic) felt jarring to some, Dunne personally related, as his sister, actress Dominique Dunne, was murdered by her ex in 1982.

— Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2026

Definition of murdered

Verb

In Week 1, Carroll erased a 27-0 deficit to stun Oklahoma power Jenks at the Cotton Bowl in a thrilling win.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2026
Rookie fifth-round running back Emmett Johnson flashed vision in the opener, finishing with 12 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown erased by a holding call on Hunter Nourzad.

— Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of erased

Verb

Some of his pieces on display include 1977 portrait shots of smiling residents in Aliso Village, a large public housing project in the Boyle Heights that was demolished in 1999 because of gang violence and decaying conditions.

— Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Sacks have historically demolished their offense along with Burrow’s long-term health.

— J.J. Bailey, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026