RULED OUT Synonyms: 116 Similar and Opposite Words

ruled out 1 of 2

adjective

as in shut out

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ruled out

2 of 2

verb

past tense of rule out

as in excluded

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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 ruled out

Verb

While an isolated afternoon shower can't be ruled out, many neighborhoods will stay dry. — Bill Kelly, CBS News, 30 July 2026 She was helped off the floor and later ruled out after initially being listed as questionable to return. — Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026 The letter, sent July 28 to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, comes as the president has not ruled out sending federal agents to the polls in November. — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 29 July 2026 Experts have ruled out lead toxicity and swallowed objects, but a diagnosis remains elusive. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 While a new deal was not totally ruled out, The Athletic reported Gueye was deemed more likely to leave than stay this summer, and that Everton were keen to reduce their reliance on the midfielder. — Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 24 July 2026 Per the release, Adesoye has secured a nursing role at Southmead and hasn’t ruled out studying for a master’s degree in the future. — Adam England, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026 Duke, the prosecutor, said a forensic pathologist ruled out vaccines as a possible cause of death. — Alex Brizee july 22, Idaho Statesman, 22 July 2026 But Argentine scientists who tested rats for the Andes hantavirus in the area recently ruled out Ushuaia as the source of the outbreak — to the relief of the Antarctic cruise hub heavily reliant on foreign tourism. — ABC News, 21 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruled out

Adjective

Three other vehicles with human drivers then appeared to illegally pass the stopped bus.

— Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
The truck crossed into the eastbound lane and crashed into the stopped Kia, striking the three pedestrians, CHP said.

— Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Feb. 2026

Definition of stopped

Verb

Most systems gradually lose efficiency over 15 to 20 years, and routine mechanical breakdowns, corrosion, rust and deferred maintenance are almost always excluded.

— Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 30 July 2026
Parents miss work when their child is sick or excluded from school after being exposed.

— Brian Castrucci, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Definition of excluded

Verb

The account has been deactivated and was subsequently banned by the social media platform, which noted that the content of his livestream related to self-harm violated TikTok’s community guidelines.

— Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026
Instead, the council majority voted to ban the use of firearms in the city, rectifying an apparent oversight in 2011 that removed the prohibition on shooting firearms from a list of weapons that were banned.

— Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of banned

Verb

After Bay was shut out in each of its previous two matches, Bebar breathed life into the offense in the 13th minute, finding the upper corner from outside of the penalty area for her first professional goal.

— Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2026
If employers stop hiring job applicants who lack experience, those same individuals will be shut out from obtaining it.

— Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of shut out

Verb

The Twins then quickly crossed off another need by being aggressive on Friday and adding Kremer, which eliminated a potential weakness.

— Dan Hayes, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
The racial and ethnic minority category will be eliminated from the program as a result of the judge’s ruling, but the other categories remain.

— Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of eliminated

Verb

To be clear, compulsory voting is the opposite of the poll taxes, which are prohibited by the 24th Amendment and that were once used to disenfranchise.

— Susan Ostermann, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2026
Most state and local regulations use terms such as exotic, noxious, prohibited and restricted instead of invasive.

— Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of prohibited

Verb

Investments with a visible before-and-after—money saved, costs cut, a loss prevented—are easier to measure and therefore easier for potential clients to justify.

— Tyler Hochman, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
That has prevented SpaceX employees and other insiders from selling shares for a period following the IPO.

— John Ruwitch, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of prevented

Browse Nearby Words

ruled (on)

ruled out

rule (on)

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“Ruled out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruled%20out. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of ruled out

adjective

verb

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