RULE OUT Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

rule out

verb

Definition of rule out

as in to exclude

to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of another loss would rule them out of the tournament

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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 rule out Algorithms designed for particular problems, including Shor’s algorithm for factoring large numbers, are not ruled out by the conjecture. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026 Although both recommended Eisenkot to the president, their support presents a dilemma for some of his prospective coalition partners, who have ruled out depending on Arab parties to establish a government. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026 Some wintry weather, wet and slushy snow, cannot be ruled out across parts of the northeast corridor including Maryland. — CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026 Robinson, who missed the past two games with a hamstring injury, practiced in limited fashion all three sessions this week before being ruled out Friday for the Falcons’ Week 9 bout with the Cincinnati Bengals at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid. — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 7 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rule out

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rule out

Verb

Quarterly earnings for the company totaled 35 cents per share, excluding certain items, below a FactSet forecast of 42 cents per share.

— Deena Zaidi,Darla Mercado, CFP®,Fred Imbert, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2026
Police said this is the second-safest year in the subway in the last 15 years, excluding the pandemic.

— Marcia Kramer, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of exclude

Verb

Right now, California bans public money from funding political campaigns, except in a handful of cities like Berkeley and San Francisco.

— Kiara Adams, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026
The First World War did cause the telephone industry to be nationalized for a year, but this didn’t make much difference for users, notwithstanding a decree in Indiana that banned speaking German on the phone.

— Cal Revely-Calder, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of ban

Verb

In 1994, Defense Secretary Les Aspin rescinded the risk rule policy but kept in place the exclusion that barred women from serving in direct ground combat units below the brigade level.

— James LaPorta, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2026
The new registry comes after West Hollywood officials in March barred discrimination against polyamorous people.

— Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of bar

Verb

The decision to suspend the football program eliminated last week’s set of games and another this week.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026
At a hearing last week, as Assembly committee discussed measures including eliminating the $750 million cap, allowing above-the-line expenses, expanding eligibility, and extending the sunset date.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of eliminate

Verb

Emma Peschel celebrated her first game for the United by scoring a goal to help shut out Germany 5-0 at the women’s ice hockey worlds on Sunday.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Nov. 2026
Trailing by six at halftime, Utah forced three turnovers and shut out the Cougars (7-2, 4-2) in the second half to keep alive its College Football Playoff hopes.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of shut out

Verb

Bass has also accused Raman of freezing out people in her own Hollywood Hills council district who disagree with her.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026
The lawyer said Panahi discovered that court hearings were underway against him after his bank accounts were frozen out of the blue.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of freeze out

Verb

The district also said that Beyer has made additional counseling and support services available to student-athletes and that students and staff undergo annual training intended to prevent harassment.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026
The administration has avoided publicly announcing these operations to prevent signaling a return to large-scale warfare.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of prevent

Verb

Tennessee law prohibits the public disclosure of any individual or entity involved in procuring lethal substances or carrying out executions.

— CBS News, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
Google is prohibited from attempting to re-identify the data, and is required to process it in a secure environment and treat it as confidential.

— David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of prohibit

Browse Nearby Words

rule (on)

rule out

ruler

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“Rule out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rule%20out. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of rule out

verb

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