as in murder
the intentional and unlawful taking of another person's life
the mafia boss ordered a rubout as casually as you might order a pizza
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to destroy
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
aerial bombs rubbed out the oil refinery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to assassinate
to put to death deliberately
an elaborate setup to rub out rival mobsters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to eradicate
to destroy all traces of
a promise to rub out the city's drug trade
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rubout
Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 13 May 2023
The Penguins were rubbed out easily Tuesday night by the resurgent Devils, 5-1, a dispiriting loss that dipped them 1 point out of a wild-card spot behind the Panthers and Islanders.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Apr. 2023
But church officials warn that secularization more than anything led them to rub out the godparents, a Sicilian thing that’s been going on for 2,000 years, or at least since the church’s dicey first days, when sponsors known to bishops vouched for converts to prevent pagan infiltration.
—New York Times, 16 Oct. 2021
The resort can arrange a local masseuse to rub out all that daring inside the comfort of your cabin.
—Rina Nehdar, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2022
See all Example Sentences for rubout 
Verb
Leach, subsequently dealt from the Seals to the Flyers in May 1974, won the Cup with the Broad Streeters in ‘75 and amassed his 19 the following spring, when they were rubbed out by the Canadiens, 4-0, in the Cup Final.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 13 May 2023
The Penguins were rubbed out easily Tuesday night by the resurgent Devils, 5-1, a dispiriting loss that dipped them 1 point out of a wild-card spot behind the Panthers and Islanders.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Apr. 2023
But church officials warn that secularization more than anything led them to rub out the godparents, a Sicilian thing that’s been going on for 2,000 years, or at least since the church’s dicey first days, when sponsors known to bishops vouched for converts to prevent pagan infiltration.
—New York Times, 16 Oct. 2021
The resort can arrange a local masseuse to rub out all that daring inside the comfort of your cabin.
—Rina Nehdar, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2022
See all Example Sentences for rubout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubout
Noun
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Willard was later found guilty of murder, while a jury determined Robinson was not guilty in Jackson’s death, according to local WRTV.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
26 Jan. 2025
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According to the provisions of the agreement, detainees who were serving life sentences for murder and other serious crimes must be sent abroad.—
Willem Marx,
NPR,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Palestinians who have been sheltering in squalid tent camps and schools-turned-shelters for over a year are eager to return to their homes — even though they have likely been damaged or destroyed.—
Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy,
TIME,
27 Jan. 2025
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The wildfires that burned through much of Los Angeles County earlier this month wreaked havoc across the region, burning down entire neighborhoods and destroying more than 17,000 structures, many of which were homes.—
Joel Thayer,
Newsweek,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Garfield was assassinated by a disgruntled and delusional office-seeker named Charles Guiteau.—
Mo Rocca,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2025
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The mountain’s name will revert to Mount McKinley, named for William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, who was assassinated on September 14, 1901.—
Jayme Moye,
Outside Online,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The theory holds that a community that rids itself of petty crime, such as shoplifting, vandalism and trespassing, can eradicate more serious crime because criminals won’t have anywhere to hide.—
JULIE K. BROWN,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2025
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Its achievements include eradicating smallpox and bringing polio to the brink of elimination.—
Raul A. Reyes,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Anyone with information about the death of the bar patron Saturday night can contact the Sheriff’s Office’s homicide unit at 858-285-6330 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers’ anonymous tip line at 888-580-8477.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2025
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The probe by the county homicide squad is ongoing while a federal investigation into the cause of the building collapse is underway, too.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Some of Werfel’s friends thought that this metamorphosis had ruined his literary gift.—
Alex Ross,
The New Yorker,
3 Feb. 2025
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Valentine's Day is coming and most romantics don't plan to let inflation ruin their holiday.—
Mike Snider,
USA TODAY,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer might live to slay another day.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
EW.com,
3 Feb. 2025
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The bipartisan act, the first piece of legislation approved during Trump’s second term, was named for Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who was slain last year by a Venezuelan man in the U.S. illegally.—
Will Weissert,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
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President Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship threatens to erase the futures of countless children—children whose potential will go untapped, whose contributions to art, science, and justice might never be realized.—
Paola Mendoza,
TIME,
24 Jan. 2025
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Despite that, Djokovic played well enough to erase a deficit and overcome Alcaraz in four sets.—
Howard Fendrich,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near rubout
Cite this Entry
“Rubout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubout. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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