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

Volume excludes pricing and currency fluctuations to reflect demand more accurately.

— Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
However, this is below the rate of inflation, and excludes teacher pensions.

— Will Barker, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of excludes

Verb

Federal law currently bans most robocalls to cellphones unless the caller gets consent beforehand.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
Thursday’s announcement formally bans Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, and four other companies from the permanent labor certification process.

— Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of bans

Verb

Specifically, the law prohibits municipal governments from requiring businesses to set specific wages, benefits or working conditions under contract, and bars them from forcing businesses to join task forces formed to address those issues.

— Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2026
One of Broward’s rare breakout pop acts, Black Violin’s Wil B and Kev Marcus are Dillard High grads who began turning heads playing hip-hop on viola and violin at Fort Lauderdale bars about 20 years ago.

— Greg Carannante, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of bars

Verb

Kwon said the South Korean military removed a North Korean minefield around the blast site on Monday and will remove other North Korean minefields placed south of the border unless North Korea voluntarily eliminates them.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
The New Advantages So how can small companies compete as AI eliminates the old advantages?

— Bonnie Le Page, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of eliminates

Verb

Specifically, the law prohibits municipal governments from requiring businesses to set specific wages, benefits or working conditions under contract, and bars them from forcing businesses to join task forces formed to address those issues.

— Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2026
Federal law directly prohibits federal troops or armed officers, including federal law enforcement agents, from appearing at polling places during an election.

— Danielle Friedman, The Conversation, 8 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 12 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of rules out

verb

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