rubbed out

past tense of rub out
1
as in destroyed
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of aerial bombs rubbed out the oil refinery

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 rubbed out This treacherous gang has phenomenally rubbed out many signatures of independence in a very short time. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 14 June 2026 But an Irish knock-on rubbed out a try for Jack Conan, and the second chance was turned over by Mann. ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026 No Mob boss, cheerfully decreeing that an inconvenient witness be rubbed out, could be more resolute. Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubbed out
Verb
  • These structures were regionally and culturally inspired, and largely destroyed during rapid and callous colonization.
    Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 4 July 2026
  • The Aspen Acres fire has likely destroyed more than 200 homes, but the fire conditions have stopped damage assessment teams from accessing some areas to get a clearer picture, Pueblo County officials said.
    Katie Langford, Denver Post, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • Louis Farrakhan, who is now 93, stepped into the organization’s leadership vacuum shortly after Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965.
    Julie Carr Smyth, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
  • Louis Farrakhan stepped into the organization’s leadership vacuum shortly after Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965.
    Julie Carr Smyth, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026
Verb
  • In 1980, smallpox became the first human disease ever eradicated worldwide.
    Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • The New World screwworm, a parasitic fly eradicated from the United States in the 1960s, has resurfaced in the American Southwest.
    Eva Flowe July 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Croatia still furious Despite the correct decision being made, Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić was far from happy, saying VAR had ruined the spirit of the game.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
  • Bovary is in some sense a morality tale, but what lifts it above didacticism, along with its bone-deep interiority, is that its romantic plotlines are as addictive as the genre works that have ruined poor Emma Bovary.
    Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • If Dennis is murdered or missing, wouldn’t Brian and associates know about it?
    Erin Qualey, Vulture, 1 July 2026
  • Investigators are still determining what led up to the altercation, how the victim was murdered, and the suspect's motive.
    Paula Wethington, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Golden State jumped out to a 12-2 lead that Atlanta quickly erased with an 11-0 run in a game that saw 22 lead changes and 14 ties.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
  • In order to safely accomplish the stunt, Cruise was attached via a wire that was later erased in post production.
    Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • The East Wing of the White House was demolished suddenly in October 2025 and there is set to be a huge new ballroom, office spaces and an underground military complex in its place, though the design of the new building is still in flux.
    Adam England, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
  • Just months later, in October, the East Wing had been demolished without notice to make way for the new ballroom.
    Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Colombia’s goal wasn’t perfectly executed but was delivered with emphasis.
    Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026
  • Promise David’s goal for the co-hosts was delightfully executed but this game raised some questions for Jesse Marsch ahead of the knockouts.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Cite this Entry

“Rubbed out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubbed%20out. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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