rules out

Definition of rules outnext
present tense third-person singular of rule out

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 rules out And to me, that’s very alien to imagine that the Universe could be not following some laws, that there isn’t some set of rules out there that determines what really happens? Big Think, 29 Oct. 2025 None of this rules out an agreement on Chinese investments in the US as part of a broader trade deal. semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2025 That rules out fanciful speculation that the likes of Timothée Chalamet, Glen Powell, Austin Butler, Jacob Elordi and others who don’t hail from UK shores are in the running. Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025 Well, that rules out a whole lot of major villains that Reeves may have adapted, after previously doing high profile ones like The Riddler, Catwoman (well, sometimes-villain) and the all-time great Colin Farrell Penguin. Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 This approach helps untangle cause from coincidence – and rules out confounding factors better than with observational studies. New Atlas, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rules out
Verb
  • Givens filed a court petition to issue a temporary restraining order against Dallas County commissioners from rewarding judges with a collective $500,000 in supplemental pay because the payment plan excludes her.
    Steve Pickett, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Senate Bill 26-115 excludes a number of convictions from automatically qualifying for the process — including first-degree murder — but allows for district attorneys to bring a petition for any prisoner at the prosecution’s discretion.
    Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Book bans themselves remain a unicorn in Chicago.
    Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
  • The policy prohibits collective punishment — such as taking recess away from an entire class because of a few students' behavior — and bans silent lunches, a practice some students said felt unfair.
    Eva Andersen, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Texas law bars the use of state resources for political campaigns and prohibits government officials from using public funds for political advertising.
    John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 4 Mar. 2026
  • The Supreme Court seemed likely Monday to loosen a federal law that bars marijuana users from owning guns in a case that crossed typical political lines.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • For the landscaping team, this plan eliminates guesswork, minimizes mid-project changes, and keeps the entire process running smoothly.
    Katie Strasberg Rousso, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Staying near your meeting location, conference venue, or in the city center saves time and eliminates the need for lengthy rideshares or rental cars.
    Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • This helps your child learn to soothe themselves to sleep and prevents bedtime problems down the line.
    Barrie Gillies, Parents, 9 Mar. 2026
  • This layer prevents water, nutrients, and air from reaching the roots.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Meta, which also owns WhatsApp, prohibits children under 13 from using its platforms, but some manage to sign up anyway.
    MORGAN LEE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 6 Mar. 2026
  • The 21-page agreement prohibits the gathering or publication of any information that is not authorized by the government, including declassified information and off-the-record conversations, whether obtained on or off Pentagon grounds.
    Gary Grumbach, NBC news, 5 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rules out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rules%20out. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.

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