RULING OUT Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

ruling out

verb

present participle of rule out

as in excluding

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 ruling out Additional checkpoints may help identify gaps or inconsistencies, ruling out the bad actors. — John Bou, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 Additional observations steadily refined the asteroid's orbit, eliminating any possibility of a collision in 2029 and also ruling out any impact threat for at least the next century, according to NASA. — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 6 July 2026 After ruling out all other possibilities, Dhingra finally diagnosed Williams with IC‑MPGN, a kidney disease related to the immune system. — Kerry Breen, CBS News, 27 June 2026 Boston is not ruling out the idea is my intel. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026 But in the decades since PBHs were first proposed, astronomers found clever ways to narrow down their plausible range of masses, ruling out many scenarios in which these black holes could account for dark matter. — Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 4 June 2026 Many researchers think quantum computers are at an advantage here, because the process of classically ruling out insignificant configurations can get prohibitively difficult. — Quanta Magazine, 29 May 2026 Investigators are not ruling out weather or any other contributing factors. — Francie Ebert, NBC news, 16 May 2026 Bonta, a Democrat, is running for another four-year term after ruling out a run for governor amid questions about his involvement in an FBI East Bay corruption case. — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruling out

Verb

The issue has dominated conversation around the WNBA in the wake of Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s recent comments in favor of excluding trans athletes from women’s sports.

— Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
The Blue Jays have also won four consecutive series, excluding their makeup-game loss to the Chicago Cubs, and remain within striking distance of the American League Wild Card race.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of excluding

Verb

In addition to Medicare for All, his campaign centered on lowering prescription drug costs and banning corporate PAC money.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
On Tuesday local time, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order banning the construction of new large-scale data centers with a power capacity of 50 megawatts or more for up to one year.

— , CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of banning

Verb

Orlando put a stop to a two-game losing streak in shutting out Chicago for the second time this season.

— Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2026
And the Cup created new stars, like 40-year-old Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, who gained millions of Instagram followers after shutting out Spain.

— Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2026

Definition of shutting out

Verb

The Democratic Party’s nightmare scenario would involve both Republican candidates advancing to November’s general election, freezing out Democrats from the governor’s office for the first time since 2011.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026
Minnesota officials said on Thursday that the FBI is taking the lead on the investigation and freezing out state investigators.

— Ted Johnson, Deadline, 9 Jan. 2026

Definition of freezing out

Verb

Deregulation is the first step toward completely sunsetting Head Start, according to Jonathan Butcher, the acting director of the Center for Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation, who is an advocate for eliminating the program.

— Kate Sequeira, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
Ng countered, arguing AI redefines job tasks rather than eliminating roles, and accused large companies of exaggerating threats to stifle competition, advocating for open models to prevent gatekeeping.

— Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of eliminating

Verb

Cracks became public last month, when an online petition started by Giovanni Galante, whose wife Grace Galante was killed, asked the 9/11 Memorial and Museum to consider barring Mamdani from the ceremony.

— Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
The months-long delay, barring a settlement, has added to industry angst given how rapidly the marketplace keeps changing due to tech and audience shifts.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of barring

Browse Nearby Words

ruling (on)

ruling out

rulings

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“Ruling out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruling%20out. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of ruling out

verb

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