RUBBING OUT Synonyms: 210 Similar and Opposite Words

rubbing out

verb

present participle of rub out

as in destroying

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 murdering

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in eradicating

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 rubbing out Also on the trail is a gangster named Clyde (John Magaro), who’s been sent to redo the job of rubbing out the mysteriously undead Ida. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubbing out

Verb

Sonil Jain, Co-founder of Sowtex and ReMaterial, noted that for a fabric exporter trading with Russia, Brazil, or the UAE, there were many possible benefits, including cheaper, faster B2B settlements without dollar-clearing fees destroying margins.

— Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026
Some put the chance of AI destroying everyone, everywhere, all at once at around 50%.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of destroying

Verb

Rhys plays Nile Jarvis, the menacing and manipulative real estate scion suspected of murdering his first wife.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
As interviewees list justifications for murdering civilians, including children, the camera’s gaze eventually falls on the IDF’s own military headquarters.

— Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of murdering

Verb

The quest for 500 million flies The only way the US has succeeded in eradicating screwworm is by breeding millions of flies, sterilizing them using radiation and dropping them in areas with infestations.

— Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026
The brand also claims that this sweeps away plaque rather than just blasting a hole through it, more effectively eradicating the sludgy bacteria.

— Jenny Bailly, Allure, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of eradicating

Verb

Museum putty or wax can help keep pieces in place without ruining either the tray or your collectibles.

— Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Sep. 2026
As fishermen wrestled their catches out of flimsy fiberglass boats near a makeshift shoreside market recently, several stopped to talk with CNN, complaining that the war is ruining business.

— Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of ruining

Verb

Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, will stand trial after a Utah judge ruled Tuesday that prosecutors presented enough evidence to move forward on all seven charges against him.

— Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Ferrell instead starred as the villainous mogul Jacobim Mugatu, who attempts to brainwash Derek into assassinating the prime minister of Malaysia.

— Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026

Definition of assassinating

Verb

Technically, the stock has made a round trip erasing all of its 2026 gains.

— Jay Woods, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026
The collective term lumped these women together, robbing them of individuality, and reducing them to merely decorative fixtures of Premier-league broadcasts while erasing their individual accomplishments.

— Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of erasing

Verb

One drone operator talks about going out for lunch or hanging out with their friends in Tel Aviv after demolishing people’s houses in Gaza from miles away.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026
At Cordova Villa Elementary, construction includes demolishing the existing administration building and a classroom building.

— Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of demolishing

Verb

However, Newcastle were still paid what was due to them (likewise Everton, who received sell-on and solidarity payments), as the first instalment was funded through Barca taking out a bank loan.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Reeger became a hero after taking out several Klingon cruisers at the Battle of Zeta Reticuli, but he was actually incapacitated at the time and took the credit for George's heroic actions, stalling Kirk Sr's career in the process.

— Richard Edwards, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2026