1
as in giving way (to)
to find emotional release for
he took out his frustrations by splitting a cord of firewood
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in going out (with)
to go on a social engagement with
she'd like to take the new boy out to the movies sometime
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in removing
to take away from a place or position
the airline passenger took his laptop computer out of its carrying case
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in murdering
to put to death deliberately
the rumor is that the CIA is planning to take him out before he can seize control of the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of taking out
Instead of slaying a burgundy and blue dragon by taking out the Avs’ second-best player, the Wild officially woke up the beast.
—
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 4 May 2026
Since this will require taking out a new loan to pay off the existing one (homeowners keep the difference as cash), a mortgage rate exchange will inevitably occur.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 4 May 2026
Junior Caminero singled, and manager Kevin Cash took somewhat of a gamble by taking out his top slugger to Richie Palacios could pinch run.
—Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
The Golden Bears, looking for their first NCAA title, knocked off Hawaii, 15-10, in a quarterfinal before taking out top-seeded defending champion Stanford, 13-11, in the semifinals to advance to their second final in three seasons.
—Oc Register, 27 Apr. 2026
Prosecutors said the scheme resulted in about $6 million in actual losses, with 11 suspects — including an Iranian and Azerbaijani national — accused of stealing victims’ identities, taking out mortgages on their homes and pocketing the cash.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 21 Mar. 2026
She was also found guilty of insurance fraud for taking out a $100,000 insurance policy on her husband's life with his forged signature and also for submitting a claim following his death.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
But eliminating things and fully taking out a capability is really challenging without putting people there on the ground.
—NBC news, 1 Mar. 2026
Three years later, Williams became the first Black woman since Althea Gibson in 1958 to hoist Wimbledon's Venus Rosewater Dish after taking out defending champion Lindsay Davenport.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 1 Mar. 2026
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 4 May 2026
Since this will require taking out a new loan to pay off the existing one (homeowners keep the difference as cash), a mortgage rate exchange will inevitably occur.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 4 May 2026
Junior Caminero singled, and manager Kevin Cash took somewhat of a gamble by taking out his top slugger to Richie Palacios could pinch run.
—Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
The Golden Bears, looking for their first NCAA title, knocked off Hawaii, 15-10, in a quarterfinal before taking out top-seeded defending champion Stanford, 13-11, in the semifinals to advance to their second final in three seasons.
—Oc Register, 27 Apr. 2026
Prosecutors said the scheme resulted in about $6 million in actual losses, with 11 suspects — including an Iranian and Azerbaijani national — accused of stealing victims’ identities, taking out mortgages on their homes and pocketing the cash.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 21 Mar. 2026
She was also found guilty of insurance fraud for taking out a $100,000 insurance policy on her husband's life with his forged signature and also for submitting a claim following his death.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
But eliminating things and fully taking out a capability is really challenging without putting people there on the ground.
—NBC news, 1 Mar. 2026
Three years later, Williams became the first Black woman since Althea Gibson in 1958 to hoist Wimbledon's Venus Rosewater Dish after taking out defending champion Lindsay Davenport.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taking out
Verb
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Allow these to regrow and form new plants after removing all the dead.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
-
On Saturday, that included removing Jake LaRavia from the rotation entirely as rookie forward Adou Thiero became the Lakers’ third player off the bench and veteran big man Maxi Kleber moved into the rotation as the ninth option.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Some progressives have cheered Luigi Mangione for murdering Brian Thompson, a health-care CEO.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
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The unsealed indictment formally charges Bowen with murdering Metayer Bowen with a firearm and tampering with evidence.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Alejandra’s profound desire to become a mother—and the heartbreak and pressure that engulf her after multiple miscarriages—drive her to fake a pregnancy, unleashing a media scandal and a moral reckoning.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
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Israel responded with overwhelming force, unleashing a barrage of airstrikes on southern Lebanon and areas around its capital Beirut and later launching the ongoing ground invasion.—
April 27,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
One of the most pleasantly surprising things about visiting the Florida Keys is seeing how many attractions allow for four-legged visitors accompanying their humans.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2026
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When a tag is struck, a wearable mic, such as a smartwatch or phone, picks up the sound, and accompanying software identifies exactly which tag was struck based on its unique signature.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
2 May 2026
Verb
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The Cabinet discussed—and George III supported—withdrawing from the coastal colonies entirely in favor of the Caribbean.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Two top Republican lawmakers expressed concern about the Pentagon withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Making a disgusting joke about assassinating the President #2.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
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The furor around Kimmel comes seven months after ABC briefly suspended his talk show amid a controversy over his comments about the political motivations of the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah.—
Daniel Arkin,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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One compelling hypothesis is that dark matter particles in the dense central halo are interacting with and annihilating one another, releasing energy as gamma rays.—
Paul M. Sutter,
Scientific American,
6 May 2026
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Valdez’s agency was in damage-control mode this winter, releasing a 20-minute video that focused primarily on the pitcher’s upbringing, painting him in a personable light.—
Levi Weaver,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Verb
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And the bullpen highlighted by Carlos Estevez and Lucas Erceg augmented by the addition of Matt Strahm figures to give them an advantage in putting away games.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2026
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Ultimately, the Saints couldn't complete an all-timer of a tournament shocker, fading late as the Blue Devils rallied from their biggest deficit all season — 13 points — before finally putting away a 71-65 win in Thursday's first round of the East Region.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taking out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taking%20out. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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