as in shut out
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in excluded
to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of
another loss would rule them out of the tournament
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 3 Mar. 2026
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said an invasion of Iran with ground forces, which would demand a much greater surge of combat power beyond what's already deployed, hasn't been ruled out.
—Steven Beynon, ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
In addition to Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain injury management), the Magic were without Anthony Black, who was ruled out pre-game due to a right quad bruise.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026
But Macron ruled out any such possibility in Monday’s speech.
—Sylvie Corbet, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Coming off the first end of a back-to-back, Boston ruled out Jaylen Brown (illness) and Neemias Queta (rest) for its road game against the Bucks.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 2 Mar. 2026
Horford was ruled out of Tuesday’s game, which put him in line to participate against Memphis on Wednesday.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
The detective also testified about fingerprints lifted from Pata’s car that were a match to a person who was ruled out as a suspect.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
Newsom, who hasn't ruled out a run for president in 2028, actively challenges Trump, often mocking the president's aggressive style on social media.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has ruled out talking, sending a clear message that the remaining leadership in Iran is prepared to fight, rather than take instructions from Washington.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 3 Mar. 2026
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said an invasion of Iran with ground forces, which would demand a much greater surge of combat power beyond what's already deployed, hasn't been ruled out.
—Steven Beynon, ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
In addition to Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain injury management), the Magic were without Anthony Black, who was ruled out pre-game due to a right quad bruise.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026
But Macron ruled out any such possibility in Monday’s speech.
—Sylvie Corbet, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Coming off the first end of a back-to-back, Boston ruled out Jaylen Brown (illness) and Neemias Queta (rest) for its road game against the Bucks.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 2 Mar. 2026
Horford was ruled out of Tuesday’s game, which put him in line to participate against Memphis on Wednesday.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
The detective also testified about fingerprints lifted from Pata’s car that were a match to a person who was ruled out as a suspect.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
Newsom, who hasn't ruled out a run for president in 2028, actively challenges Trump, often mocking the president's aggressive style on social media.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruled out
Verb
-
International films are quite frequently excluded from eligibility because they’re generally not written by WGA members who are under the guild’s collective bargaining agreement.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
8 Mar. 2026
-
During their sophomore year of high school, Shelia and Rachel had grown closer, leaving Skylar feeling excluded.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Three other vehicles with human drivers then appeared to illegally pass the stopped bus.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Mar. 2026
-
That's when a 51-year-old woman driving a Tesla south on Highway 85 struck the Focus, causing both cars to spin and crash into a stopped semi-truck.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
North Korea was banned from the 2015 World Cup, then failed to qualify for the Asian Cup in 2018 and the World Cup in 2019.—
Harriet Marsden,
TheWeek,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Some obvious changes in parenting guidelines over the years include no longer allowing kids to ride a bike without a helmet or travel in a car without a car seat—most parents have also banned crib bumpers and blankets from their infants cribs, too.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Justin Clarke-Samuel, a 41-year-old Briton who performs rap music as Ghetts, was sentenced to 12 years in prison and barred from driving for 17 years for killing a 20-year-old Nepali student in an October 2025 hit-and-run in London.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Those who do not follow the rules would be barred from doing business with the city for up to four years.—
R. Christian Smith,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Irish have shut out three of their past five opponents.—
Forum News Service,
Twin Cities,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Suz Kroeber, a Washington Heights mom of two children, said she and her wife were shut out of 3-k last year for their oldest child.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
First the Spartans eliminated Inglewood with 13 threes.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
With the latest Webb data, researchers now have far greater confidence in where asteroid 2024 YR4 will be in 2032 and have eliminated the possibility of a lunar impact.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
According to Texas law, cell phones are prohibited within 100 feet of voting stations.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Gender-affirming medical care and changing one’s gender in official documents are prohibited.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Firearm safety activists say the shootings could have been prevented by following Michigan's safe storage law.—
Heath Kalb,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
-
However, the contract included non-disparagement and binding arbitration clauses which would have prevented the siblings from going to the police with their allegations or suing the Jackson estate in open court.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruled out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruled%20out. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
