SHUTTING OUT Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

shutting out

verb

present participle of shut out

as in excluding

to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of local residents feel that they have been shut out of the debate for expanding the airport

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Example Sentences

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 shutting out Cypress Creek ended the state’s longest winless streak in a big way, shutting out Lake Buena Vista 32-0 to stop the Bears’ skid at 35 consecutive losses. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026 Chinander moved away from that in the second half, forcing Stokes into shorter-range passes and ultimately shutting out the Tigers. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 16 Sep. 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 Spain was riding high ahead of Sunday’s match after shutting out France in a 2-0 semifinals win on Tuesday, July 14. — Eleanor Jacobs, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026 The defender, a former member of MLS’ Orlando City SC and who now patrols the backline at La Liga club Villarreal in Spain, has rewarded the coach by helping shut down Paraguay a week ago and shutting out Australia here in Seattle. — David Close, CNN Money, 20 June 2026 The Reds got the best of the Mets yesterday, putting up 12 unanswered runs and shutting out New York. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026 The Mavericks won Game 1 of the ECHL’s best-of-seven championship series on Friday night, shutting out Florida 6-0 at Cable Dahmer Arena. — Jeff Rosen, Kansas City Star, 7 June 2026 The Wildcats scored five unanswered goals in the final quarter, shutting out the Tar Heels for the last 15 minutes of the game. — CBS News, 24 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shutting out

Verb

Miami held Wake Forest (2-1, 0-1 ACC) to 22 rushing yards on 16 attempts (41 yards on 13 attempts if excluding the 19 yards lost on three sacks).

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2026
In fact, there might not be another media network in the country, other than BET, that has prioritized excluding white people from its hiring practices as much as ESPN has over the past decade.

— Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of excluding

Verb

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

Definition of ruling out

Verb

Engineers also reconfigured the inflatable bladder to maintain the original air volume while eliminating chest layers and moved the carbon dioxide valves to the back.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026
Either way, eliminating one unnecessary cycle each week adds up over time.

— Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of eliminating

Verb

Pluto's atmosphere appears to be freezing out as the dwarf planet moves ever further away from the sun, according to careful observations of Pluto astronomers made as it was seen passing in front of stars in the sky.

— Keith Cooper, Space.com, 10 Aug. 2026
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

Definition of freezing out

Verb

Despite a preliminary injunction barring the venue from closing, people were kicked out of the building and barricades erected in the name of public safety that same day.

— Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
Seydou Traore would be able to play against the 49ers through thumb and Achilles ailments, barring setbacks.

— David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of barring

Verb

The city joins a number of others that have passed laws preventing discrimination against people who live in nonmonogamous relationships.

— Casey Parks, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2026
MXene nanosheets fill the microscopic gaps between those fibers, locking them in place and preventing slippage under physical pressure.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of preventing

Browse Nearby Words

shutting off

shutting out

shutting up

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“Shutting out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shutting%20out. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of shutting out

verb

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