as in excludes
to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of
another loss would rule them out of the tournament
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 rules out
The paper also rules out a competing explanation.
—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
9 June 2026
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
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
9 June 2026
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
-
The exclusive, small club of presidents excludes only one.
-
The deal excludes Toasted Snack Rolls, Sunshine Smoothie, sides, sweets and kids food items, according to the chain's website.
Verb
-
The suspect in that case, Leonard Holman, was charged under Blair’s Law, which bans celebratory gunfire in Missouri.
-
In 2024, California rolled out legislation that bans the use of PFAS in a range of products, including textiles, juvenile products and food.
Verb
-
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro launch in September strategically freezes out competing Android smartphones.
Verb
-
Aesha radios Nathan as much, and Nathan bars him from driving the Jet Ski.
-
The Obama-era Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, which requires presidents to submit agreements related to Iran’s nuclear program to Congress for approval, temporarily bars the president from waiving sanctions while lawmakers review.
Verb
-
This eliminates the single point of failure.
-
This distinction eliminates dependence on foreign sources and grants operators total control over their fuel supply chain.
Verb
-
Outline a proposal, then schedule a brief meeting to align expectations with a manager, because clarity now prevents heavier repairs later.
-
The active ingredient, proanthocyanidins, prevents UTIs by counteracting bacteria.
Verb
-
Chicago’s ethics ordinance prohibits former officials who managed a contract to represent that vendor after leaving City Hall.
-
Senate Bill 123 prohibits schools from expelling students solely because of excessive absences or truancy.
Cite this Entry
“Rules out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rules%20out. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
