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
Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for rubout
Noun
Investigators suspect Robinson wanted the rubout.
—Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for rubout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubout
Noun
-
At the time of Garrison’s murder, twenty-eight people had already been charged.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Detectives booked Avon Owens, 18, and another unidentified 18-year-old for murder and the use of a firearm during the commission of a murder on April 10, 2026.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
All the State Forensic Authority’s DNA analysis labs were looted and destroyed in the fighting.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
-
But now with factories, energy facilities, bridges and railways destroyed—leaving many Iranians unemployed—conditions have gotten worse.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This comes on top of at least 15 years of US-Israel assassinating Iranian university scientists and their families.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Apr. 2026
-
In July 1963, he and other members of the Everest team, including Gombu, were presented the Hubbard Medal of the National Geographic Society — which partially sponsored the expedition — by President Kennedy, four months before the president was assassinated.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Treating the underlying condition eradicates the need for drug treatments that act globally.—
Dr. Patricia Richard,
Hartford Courant,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Without widespread vaccine adherence, illnesses that were once eradicated can make a return.—
Sukhman Rekhi,
Verywell Health,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The suspect has been charged with first- and third-degree assault for the incident, but charges are expected to be amended by the Hennepin County Attorney's Office to include homicide.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The seven defendants are charged with culpable homicide, a crime similar to involuntary manslaughter that alleges that the accused were aware that their reckless conduct posed a risk and failed to prevent it.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Practical reality could nearly ruin your plans while the intuitive Moon in your 6th House of Effort squares Venus in your 9th House of Exploration.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Everything was synced up for him Saturday, and even Nimmo couldn’t ruin that breakthrough.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Trump has fired the vast majority of his Middle Eastern experts, while dozens of Iran’s top officials have been slain in the conflict.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
9 Apr. 2026
-
With the Land Rover Terrain Response System offering modes comprising Eco, Dynamic, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud & Ruts, Sand, Rock Crawl, and Wade, the tech takes the geographic and meteorological elements and slays them with a flick of a control.—
John Scott Lewinski,
Robb Report,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After Jake Cronenworth walked to start the sixth and was erased on Ramón Laureano’s fielder’s choice grounder, Tatis grounded a single through the left side to give the Padres runners at first and second.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
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Those charges were ultimately dropped and were supposed to be erased from public disclosure, the lawsuit said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rubout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubout. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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