RULES OUT Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

rules out

verb

present tense third-person singular of rule out

as in excludes

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 rules out Well, there are some rules out there already in terms of states requiring that companies list salary ranges in the job descriptions. — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 Something so bright isn’t fueled with nuclear fusion, which rules out traditional stellar objects. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 12 Aug. 2026 The statute rules out radios, CD players, headphones, sporting equipment, portable or desktop telephones, copiers or other office equipment, furniture, or fixtures. — Zuri Primos july 25, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rules out

Verb

Displaying inventory from multiple suppliers side by side makes the full cost of a booking easier to evaluate than a single quote viewed in isolation, particularly when one rate excludes an insurance product that another includes.

— Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Wells Fargo also excludes customers who have closed an account within the past 12 months.

— Dan Avery, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of excludes

Verb

The Taliban bans filming in public areas where flogging as well as stoning takes place, but MA says that individuals who oppose the practice have been discretely filming these events, then posting the video.

— Ruchi Kumar, NPR, 8 Sep. 2026
The legislation bans state agencies from doing business with or investing in companies that boycott Israel.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of bans

Verb

State law bars judges from adding items to the ballot after Tuesday, a tight deadline that could scramble Hanaway’s efforts to overturn the ruling.

— Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026
But the likely fake accounts potentially set up a legal quagmire for Temu, as European law bars the use of misleading formats for advertising.

— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of bars

Verb

Puerto Rico eliminates Turkey, advances Arella Guirantes scored 21 points and Puerto Rico finished strong to eliminate Turkey 75-71 earlier.

— CBS News, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026
Another new kickoff rule eliminates the kicking team’s incentive to intentionally kick the ball out of bounds when kicking off from the 50-yard line.

— Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of eliminates

Verb

Clear information gives everyone a fair chance to ask questions and prevents resentment from filling in the missing details.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2026
In perhaps the coolest reversal in the show thus far, the Lanterns are attacked with guns that produce darkness, which manifests here as smoke but prevents them from seeing or creating light constructs.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of prevents

Verb

Westlake is now under a temporary restraining order, which prohibits the town council from voting on a development plan for the data center.

— Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026
The name of the teenager was not released due to a law that prohibits the identification of juveniles charged with federal crimes.

— Tom Winter, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of prohibits

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rules (on)

rules out

ruling

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

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Synonyms of rules out

verb

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