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

But that excludes knock-on impacts to prices for airfare or food, for example, which can make the overall impact on price growth higher, the consultancy said in a May report.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026
That figure jumped after Friday's inflation report showed that prices remain stubbornly high and core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy, picked up in August from the previous month.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of excludes

Verb

The ‘no outside assistance’ rule is officially defined as Rule 41 of the Racing Rules of Sailing, which bans a competing boat from taking physical or tactical help from anyone outside the crew.

— Andrew Rice, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of bans

Verb

Ukraine’s constitution bars elections from being held under martial law, which was introduced after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

— Zahra Ullah, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026
On Thursday, a federal judge in Virginia granted the preliminary injunction that bars the federal agency from obtaining this data while the litigation continues.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of bars

Verb

The proposal also prohibits ornamental water features in new developments and eliminates the use of water-intensive cool-season grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass, in new landscaping projects.

— Kelly Werthmann, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
This deal, covering Southeast Asia’s largest economy and 280 million people, eliminates tariffs on 98 percent of goods traded between the two.

— JONAS NAHM, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of eliminates

Verb

There exists highly effective and safe immunization available that prevents around 97% of infections.

— Sheldon H. Jacobson, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
Attardo points out that reducing wildlife collisions doesn't just save human and animal lives, but prevents property damage, the spending of public service dollars, and traffic delays.

— Olivia Young, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of prevents

Verb

French military policy in Lebanon prohibits identifying soldiers by first names for security reasons.

— Diego Ibarra Sánchez, NPR, 19 Sep. 2026
The bills prohibits agents, officers and employees of DHS or those acting under authority of the agency from conducting operations in child care facilities, school bus stops and playgrounds.

— Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 18 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 21 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of rules out

verb

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