Synonyms of rubout

rubout 1 of 2

noun

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

• murder
• homicide
• killing
• slaying
• blood
• massacre
• foul play
• assassination
• execution
• slaughter
• destruction
• bloodshed
• decimation
• carnage
• manslaughter
• butchery
• hit
• chance-medley
• matricide
• mercy killing
• fratricide
• parricide
• euthanasia
• regicide
• patricide
• filicide
• uxoricide

rub out

2 of 2

verb

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

• destroy
• ruin
• demolish
• shatter
• wreck
• devastate
• overcome
• smash
• tear down
• pull down
• damage
• waste
• cream
• desolate
• vaporize
• extinguish
• total
• erode
• annihilate
• do in
• decimate
• win (against)
• mar
• pulverize
• triumph (over)
• ravage
• prevail (over)
• raze
• defeat
• kill
• cripple
• break
• remove
• wear (away)
• crush
• wash out
• nuke
• wipe out
• best
• blast
• dismantle
• wrack
• sweep (away)
• blow up
• subdue
• take down
• cut down
• injure
• blot out
• lick
• trim
• master
• conquer
• stamp (out)
• impair
• deteriorate
• scotch
• disintegrate
• spoil
• harm
• dissolve
• surmount
• rout
• kill off
• whip
• mow (down)
• take out
• eradicate
• mutilate
• disfigure
• dynamite
• sack
• beat
• thrash
• snuff (out)
• fell
• vitiate
• undo
• root (out)
• slaughter
• mangle
• scour
• assassinate
• clobber
• obliterate
• deface
• overbear
• overmatch
• plunder
• exterminate
• liquidate
• execute
• disassemble
• gut
• trounce
• havoc
• expunge
• loot
• extirpate
• murder
• slay
• unmake
• efface
• massacre
• wallop
• skunk
• drub
• butcher
• trample
• dispatch
• pillage
• zap
• despoil
• trash
• dilapidate
• unbuild
• vandalize

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• set up
• build
• put up
• construct
• raise
• erect
• patch
• create
• repair
• fix
• rear
• bring about
• produce
• form
• make
• found
• shape
• manufacture
• invent
• mend
• establish
• protect
• constitute
• assemble
• organize
• frame
• forge
• fashion
• mold
• save
• preserve
• institute
• fabricate
• revamp
• doctor
• recondition
• conserve
• restore
• rebuild
• reconstruct
• father
• renovate
• remodel

2

as in to assassinate

to put to death deliberately

an elaborate setup to rub out rival mobsters

Synonyms & Similar Words

• assassinate
• murder
• slay
• execute
• put away
• take out
• kill
• bump off
• get
• off
• neutralize
• dispatch
• do away with
• knock off
• terminate
• liquidate
• whack
• ice
• do in
• snuff
• cut down
• destroy
• slaughter
• blow away
• shoot down
• shoot
• carry off
• blot out
• croak
• wipe out
• mow (down)
• fell
• claim
• eliminate
• massacre
• butcher
• smite
• eradicate
• zap
• exterminate
• annihilate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• raise
• restore
• revive
• animate
• resurrect
• resuscitate

3

as in to eradicate

to destroy all traces of

a promise to rub out the city's drug trade

Synonyms & Similar Words

• eradicate
• erase
• abolish
• wipe out
• destroy
• stamp (out)
• blot out
• sweep (away)
• clean (up)
• obliterate
• cancel
• root (out)
• exterminate
• liquidate
• expunge
• black out
• annihilate
• efface
• snuff (out)
• demolish
• shatter
• tear down
• extirpate
• mow (down)
• kill
• ruin
• dismantle
• discard
• kill off
• consume
• waste
• fragment
• blow up
• powder
• flatten
• wreck
• ravage
• devastate
• dissolve
• total
• throw out
• finish
• decimate
• dash
• smash
• ditch
• eject
• devour
• expel
• blast
• terminate
• doom
• raze
• excise
• dynamite
• oust
• pulverize
• cut
• atomize
• splinter
• zap
• jettison

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• protect
• save
• preserve
• conserve
• form
• create
• build
• make
• shape
• construct
• manufacture
• frame
• forge
• fabricate
• patch
• restore
• repair
• fix
• rebuild
• fashion
• renew
• reconstruct
• mend
• renovate
• revamp
• recondition

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of rubout

Noun

Investigators suspect Robinson wanted the rubout. — Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026

Verb

The News started a morning edition to rub out its competitor. — Tim Kiska, Detroit Free Press, 21 Dec. 2024

Apply additional pressure while attempting to rub out these stains, but don't go crazy. — Gia Yetikyel, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2024