rubbing out

present participle of rub out
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
3

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
  • Keeping your lawn and garden well-maintained can also help reduce grasshopper populations by destroying their breeding habitat.
    The Spruce, The Spruce, 21 July 2026
  • But the Pentagon’s youthful set of avid desk-warriors forget that big hurricanes and regional weather events regularly disrupt waterfront facilities on the Gulf and East coasts, destroying worker housing and permanently peeling away shipbuilders.
    Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Verb
  • Two members of an Orange County street gang were found guilty of murdering a man while attempting to carry out an armed robbery under the direction of the Mexican Mafia, authorities said.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
  • He was convicted of murdering six people and supervising a drug operation, receiving a sentence of life in prison.
    Shelby Stivale, Entertainment Weekly, 23 July 2026
Verb
  • Four Months Before the Wedding If your primary concern is eradicating sun spots or hyperpigmentation before your wedding—whether that be on your face or body—speak with your dermatologist about the possibility of laser treatments.
    Rio Viera-Newton, Vogue, 23 July 2026
  • Instead of employing the traditional counter-narcotics strategy of eradicating coca, RenHacemos promotes substitution – providing farmers with the means to grow alternative cash crops.
    Angie Acosta M, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
Verb
  • Shop additional Ilia beauty products below, and don’t fret about the heat ruining your glam.
    Jennifer Chan, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026
  • Floyd is no longer attracted to his wife, has trouble connecting with his teen-age stepson, and owes tens of thousands in taxes—a set of stressors that are ruining his health.
    Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 July 2026
Verb
  • Then, a few weeks later, Israel blew up the ongoing talks by assassinating both Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas representative leading peace talks in Qatar, and Mohammed Deif, a top decision-maker inside Gaza.
    David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
  • Attorneys at a key hearing for the man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk sparred over whether a police interview should be made public, with Kirk’s family attorney saying that sealing it will only sow distrust in the justice system.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 9 July 2026
Verb
  • The problem, however, is that AI makes everything flatter, essentially erasing your personality.
    Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 25 July 2026
  • The stock, which had surged more than 65% in its first week of trading, went through a separate two-day slide around the same time, erasing roughly $620 billion in market value.
    Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Verb
  • Successive heat waves that hit unusually early and hard this year, baking Europe with record-shattering high temperatures, have turned forests and scrublands into tinderboxes.
    Mark Carlson, Fortune, 25 July 2026
  • Schroeder mentioned another woman, 80, now an EVSA member, who was run down by an e-biker on April 16, 2024, shattering her leg, at the same location Jean was struck.
    Lincoln Anderson, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026
Verb
  • Here are 3 better alternatives More Americans are taking out personal loans.
    Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 22 July 2026
  • This means taking out of taxable buckets first, and then IRAs and 401ks later.
    R.J. Cunningham, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Cite this Entry

“Rubbing out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubbing%20out. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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