1
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
2
as in murdering
to put to death deliberately
an elaborate setup to rub out rival mobsters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in eradicating
to destroy all traces of
a promise to rub out the city's drug trade
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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
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubbing out
Verb
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Giant sheets of plastic hang from the ceiling to separate different areas for destroying things and painting.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
-
Pests and wood-destroying organisms Charlotte’s warm, humid climate makes termites a year-round threat, not just seasonal.—
Ryan Brennan
May 15,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The story follows a respected college basketball coach who is accused of murdering his mistress.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
-
Smith was convicted and sentenced to life for murdering her sons.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The new state consumer services agency will focus on eradicating junk fees, increasing online privacy protections and overseeing oil companies, according to Newsom’s office.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
12 May 2026
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But roots can be deep and seeds can spread easily, making eradicating invasive plants difficult.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
4 May 2026
Verb
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When sound came in, people were writing all these articles about how sound is ruining films.—
Andy Hazel,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
-
Dyckman’s sharing the top three outdoor decor trends that are ruining your space—plus, her favorite Amazon swaps to fix them, starting at $22.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Mangione is accused of assassinating UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.—
Adam Sabes , Maria Paronich,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
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Making a disgusting joke about assassinating the President #2.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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It was delivered with a celebratory tone for the first-year mayor in erasing a massive funding gap.—
Amethyst Martinez,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
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Then, in 2022, with those practices firmly in place, the city's reading scores began to skyrocket, erasing pandemic-era losses and rising back around 2017 levels.—
Cory Turner,
NPR,
13 May 2026
Verb
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The administration’s norm-shattering masks a more fundamental misunderstanding of how administrative power can bring about lasting change.—
Joshua M. Sharfstein,
STAT,
16 May 2026
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At that price point, the home will likely become the most expensive home sold in Miami-Dade, shattering the record set by Zuckerberg earlier this year.—
Catherine Odom,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Then, Sky slammed Asuka and jumped off the table, taking out Asuka with a crossbody block.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2026
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Instead of slaying a burgundy and blue dragon by taking out the Avs’ second-best player, the Wild officially woke up the beast.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rubbing out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubbing%20out. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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