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

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 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

Pumping at high speeds creates a suction vortex (upconing) that violently draws heavy sludge into the production stream, fouling piping and destroying surface pumps.

— Siddharth Misra, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
The tornado wreaked havoc in the village of 1,000 inhabitants, reducing homes to rubble and destroying numerous cars.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of destroying

Verb

Closing arguments took place in the Lindsay Clancy case Thursday, bringing an end to a weekslong trial in which jurors will now determine whether the Massachusetts mother is criminally responsible for murdering her three young children.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2026
Earlier this year, two Blythe Street members were convicted of murdering a senior member of their gang whom Romo had deemed a liability.

— Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of murdering

Verb

Tlaib is also a prominent critic of Israel; her rhetoric has been chastised by Jewish colleagues as an antisemitic call for eradicating Jews, a charge the congresswoman and her supporters reject.

— Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
That method, called Sterile Insect Technique, was originally successful in eradicating flies from the United States and Central America and pushing the screwworm population back beyond the Darién Gap at the border of Panama and Colombia.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of eradicating

Verb

For a full breakdown of how to clean your bedding without ruining it, refer to AD's guide on how to wash a comforter.

— Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 Aug. 2026
This allegedly caused the cancellation of school recesses, and also ruining weddings and funerals.

— Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of ruining

Verb

Utah prosecutors are turning up the heat on Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk, arguing that the evidence against him easily meets the standard required to send the case to trial.

— Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 29 July 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

This has triggered a critical internal shift, with advocacy groups noting that the administration is actively erasing the diverse history and cultural representation that national parks protect.

— Kimmie Gordon, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026
Around that time, gold and silver had fallen to seven-month lows, erasing some of the gains the metals made during a historic price rally that ended in January of this year.

— Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of erasing

Verb

As community members organized marches and protests, Abdeen helped bring a class-action lawsuit against the city, arguing that demolishing the neighborhood would violate residents’ civil rights.

— Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
Trump has faced widespread criticism for demolishing the East Wing of the White House to make room for the grand ballroom design.

— Callum Sutherland, Time, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of demolishing

Verb

There were obstacles to women owning a home, having credit in their own name, and taking out loans, so Parton moved like perfume, wafting through the world of men while always doing things her own way.

— Shima Oliaee, Time, 26 Aug. 2026
Then, when taking out the money, the account holder will have to pay taxes on the withdrawal as ordinary income.

— Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2026