as in murder
the intentional and unlawful taking of another person's life
the mafia boss ordered a rubout as casually as you might order a pizza
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to destroy
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
aerial bombs rubbed out the oil refinery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to assassinate
to put to death deliberately
an elaborate setup to rub out rival mobsters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to eradicate
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.
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Recent Examples of rubout
Gia Yetikyel, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2024
Even so, the line about YB is specific enough to stay, since the suspects are accused of conspiring to rub out his killer, Cogan stated.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 24 Mar. 2024
Each wipe comes pre-soaked in Shout stain fighter and is designed with a textured surface that creates extra friction to rub out stains.
—Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2023
Leach, subsequently dealt from the Seals to the Flyers in May 1974, won the Cup with the Broad Streeters in ‘75 and amassed his 19 the following spring, when they were rubbed out by the Canadiens, 4-0, in the Cup Final.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 13 May 2023
See All Example Sentences for rubout
Verb
Apply additional pressure while attempting to rub out these stains, but don't go crazy.
—Gia Yetikyel, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2024
Even so, the line about YB is specific enough to stay, since the suspects are accused of conspiring to rub out his killer, Cogan stated.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 24 Mar. 2024
Each wipe comes pre-soaked in Shout stain fighter and is designed with a textured surface that creates extra friction to rub out stains.
—Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2023
Leach, subsequently dealt from the Seals to the Flyers in May 1974, won the Cup with the Broad Streeters in ‘75 and amassed his 19 the following spring, when they were rubbed out by the Canadiens, 4-0, in the Cup Final.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 13 May 2023
See All Example Sentences for rubout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubout
Noun
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Caleb Flynn, 39, pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of murder, assault and tampering with evidence.—
Sudhin Thanawala,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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Powell is accused of first-degree murder with a firearm and is being held without bond, according to Broward County jail records.—
Sofia Saric,
Miami Herald,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Gizmodo continues that the results of the CT scans astonished researchers because her right TMJ, near the ear, had been destroyed.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
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Half a million acres burned, destroying $300 million in timber and at least 150 homes and other structures.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That man, later identified as Ryan Routh, was found guilty in September 2025 of trying to assassinate the President.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Those leftist militants from Christensen’s pet project assassinate Beale during his broadcast.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Applying herbicides is the most effective way to eradicate honeysuckle, but natural methods work if done correctly.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
19 Feb. 2026
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Yet Aii has struggled to achieve more than a handful of percentage points of its goal of eradicating 100 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions by the decade’s end.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Denver saw one of the highest drops in homicide rates in the nation.—
Gabe Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Feb. 2026
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Paul Vernon, who oversaw homicide probes, said the style of carry may be familiar to some at a gun range, and investigators will be pursuing the carry method as a signature part of the man’s behavior.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Top awards executive Lisa Taback had her luggage ruined as well.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
22 Feb. 2026
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That’s when my Samsonite Paralux Carry-on ruined me for all other take-aboard luggage.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Most famous may be the Old Testament figure of David about to slay Goliath, originally made for the Cathedral of Florence.—
Virginia Raguin,
The Conversation,
19 Feb. 2026
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Robert Early Madden, 37, was found guilty by a San Diego Superior Court jury of first-degree murder and a special circumstance allegation of committing the killing during a robbery for the July 15, 2024, slaying of 38-year-old Senait Legesse.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Cook County has also had a separate program to erase medical debt.—
Lisa Schencker,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
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This administration is literally erasing Black and Transgender people from society.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rubout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubout. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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