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 But at the prospect of engagement dropping by even one percent, Zuckerberg rules out any serious measures against content violation, making Charlie furious by refusing to consider policing political ads for falsehoods. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rules out

Verb

The final policy excludes therapeutic procedures targeting nerves such as the pudendal nerve and ganglion impar, interventions used for some forms of severe pelvic pain.

— Antje M. Barreveld, STAT, 23 Oct. 2026
That count excludes more than 400 licensed locations on college campuses, in hospitals, and elsewhere.

— Heather Occhino, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of excludes

Verb

This is in stark contrast to rival retailer Amazon, which bans third-party agentic tools, such as Meta’s Muse and Perplexity’s shopping agent.

— James Peckham, PC Magazine, 22 Oct. 2026
In 2024, Wisconsin voters approved a constitutional amendment backed by Republicans that bans the use of private grant money to run elections.

— CBS News, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of bans

Verb

The draft also bars other federal departments, agencies, and officials from suspending a model’s development, deployment, or internal use.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
The National Flood Insurance Program, which covers the vast majority of flood insurance policies in the country, bars communities from allowing dry floodproofing of homes in flood zones.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of bars

Verb

The settlement eliminates the need to resolve that remaining question at trial.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
If the Tax Court agrees that rescheduling eliminates section 280E liability for past years, cannabis businesses could seek refunds for multiple prior tax years.

— Carolyn Schenck, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of eliminates

Verb

Users were likely restricted from properly spelling out such words because, by design, the platform prevents emoji from being used more than once in reaction to a post.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
In addition to being barred from ever owning livestock again, Barr’s plea agreement prevents him from owning or living with any type of animal for 15 years, according to PETA.

— Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of prevents

Verb

Planning Commission member Karen Sherman pointed out the city ordinance prohibits driveways exiting onto collector streets for safety.

— Annette Beard, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
That statute prohibits tenants from damaging or removing parts of the property belonging to the landlord or allowing other people to do so.

— Emma Clapp, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of prohibits

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rules (on)

rules out

ruling

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Style

“Rules out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rules%20out. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of rules out

verb

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