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
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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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The series is a character study masquerading as a murder mystery.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
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All of sudden, the murder rate has plummeted.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Two months after historic floods swept through the Milwaukee area, new data shows that nearly 2,200 homes throughout Milwaukee County sustained major damage or were destroyed.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
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Police in Florida are searching for two men caught on camera destroying a mall store while stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise.—
Pilar Arias,
FOXNews.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Abe – widely seen as Japan’s last stable leader, having ruled for nearly nine years – was assassinated in 2022.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
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The California resident who pleaded guilty to attempting to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh at his home in 2022 was sentenced Friday to just over eight years in prison, far below the three-decade term sought by federal prosecutors.—
Alexander Mallin,
ABC News,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This is the formula—see, believe, create—that has eradicated smallpox, cut deaths from heart disease by more than two thirds, and eliminated lead from gasoline, raising children’s IQs around the world.—
Dr. Tom Frieden,
Time,
30 Sep. 2025
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This explains why some infections are so difficult to eradicate.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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On the morning of June 3, Pandora's mother, Simone Kjolsrud, told The Republic that on May 26, the pair were victims of a double homicide while the teens were on a camping trip.—
Julie Mendes,
AZCentral.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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Her death was listed an apparent homicide by the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Don Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
30 Sep. 2025
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The jerky in particular has ruined me for all other beef jerky—so be forewarned the same might happen to you.—
Alaina Chou,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Murray, 72, was found bound and slain in the basement of his home in the 3700 block of Newcastle after his wife called 911 to report a robbery.—
Christina Hall,
Freep.com,
1 Oct. 2025
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Beginning in 1964 Nagasaki and unfolding over the next 50 years, young Kikuo (Soya Kurokawa) is taken under the wing of renowned Kabuki maestro Hanjiro Hanai (Ken Watanabe) after his yakuza father was slain.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Oct. 2025
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Those Padres quickly erased a one-run deficit and eventually won on a walk-off home run by Steve Garvey that remains perhaps the franchise’s greatest moment.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rubout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubout. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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