as in shut out
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as in excluded
to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of
another loss would rule them out of the tournament
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Recent Examples of ruled out
Big Think, 10 Feb. 2026
Trump has not ruled out the possibility of granting Maxwell a pardon or commutation.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Trump has not ruled out granting Maxwell clemency, but Republican pushback to that notion quickly rose after Maxwell made the appeal.
—Stephen Groves, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Despite receiving the second largest number of votes, People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut ruled out joining Bhumjaithai in government and instead vowed to hold Anutin’s government to account in opposition.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 Feb. 2026
Have ruled out lactose intolerance or milk allergy.
—Caitlin Beale, Health, 9 Feb. 2026
The presence of federal agents at Levi’s Stadium has not been ruled out entirely, which led to pressure on the league to confirm whether that presence would be connected to any immigration enforcement operations.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026
The Pirates have not ruled out the 17-year veteran’s return.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Finland has taken bronze at the last two Olympics and World Championships, and having made the top four in all but one of the seven Games to date, they can never be ruled out.
—Reuters, NBC news, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
Every possible explanation that isn’t ruled out or contradicted by the already-existing data should be considered, and each hypothesis should be tested and examined as rigorously as possible.
—Big Think, 10 Feb. 2026
Trump has not ruled out the possibility of granting Maxwell a pardon or commutation.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Trump has not ruled out granting Maxwell clemency, but Republican pushback to that notion quickly rose after Maxwell made the appeal.
—Stephen Groves, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Despite receiving the second largest number of votes, People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut ruled out joining Bhumjaithai in government and instead vowed to hold Anutin’s government to account in opposition.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 Feb. 2026
Have ruled out lactose intolerance or milk allergy.
—Caitlin Beale, Health, 9 Feb. 2026
The presence of federal agents at Levi’s Stadium has not been ruled out entirely, which led to pressure on the league to confirm whether that presence would be connected to any immigration enforcement operations.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026
The Pirates have not ruled out the 17-year veteran’s return.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Finland has taken bronze at the last two Olympics and World Championships, and having made the top four in all but one of the seven Games to date, they can never be ruled out.
—Reuters, NBC news, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruled out
Verb
-
The report finds more than half (57%) of pregnant people and parents of babies under 1 report feeling excluded or unwelcome when trying to stay active.—
Hannah Silverman,
Parents,
8 Feb. 2026
-
At the hearing, prosecutors argued Bremner's testimony should be excluded.—
Stephanie Slifer,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
One clip appears to show a Waymo vehicle stopped while other vehicles illegally pass a stopped bus.—
Karoline Leonard,
Austin American Statesman,
15 Jan. 2026
-
That's when a 51-year-old woman driving a Tesla south on Highway 85 struck the Focus, causing both cars to spin and crash into a stopped semi-truck.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Her Awami League is banned from contesting in the upcoming vote.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The No Secret Police Act banned local law enforcement officers, officers from other states and federal law enforcement personnel from wearing masks except in specific circumstances — such as in tactical, SWAT or undercover operations.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Yale Daily News reported Tuesday that Gelernter had been barred from teaching classes pending a review.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2026
-
In addition to asking that the subpoena be quashed, Wexner sought a protective order that would have barred plaintiffs from questioning him in the case.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Wilson isn’t alone in shutting out the noise of the industry’s upheaval.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
-
High school prospects who previously would have merited Football Championship Subdivision scholarship offers now are only getting Division II offers, and those who before the portal were worthy of Division II offers are getting shut out.—
Ken Sugiura,
AJC.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
During his regime, political parties were eliminated, opponents were executed, and Park named himself president for life.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The federal electric vehicle tax incentive was also eliminated in 2025, so there was a sales bump as American drivers took advantage of the tax credit before it was removed.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The law, Senate Bill 627, had prohibited local and federal ICE officers from wearing masks except for undercover work or health reasons.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Feb. 2026
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Under this legislation, producers, importers and retailers are prohibited from destroying unsold non‑food products, including clothing and footwear, and are required to move excess stock toward donation, reuse or recycling.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The initial hold-up that nearly prevented a Spanish figure skater from performing his short program, set to music from the Minions soundtrack, at the 2026 Winter Olympics was a 20-second segment at the beginning of his routine.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Tyler Mahle had his first reasonably healthy season since 2022 and, despite some odd underlying metrics, prevented runs.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruled out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruled%20out. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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