rubout 1 of 2

noun

Definition of ruboutnext
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

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rub out

2 of 2

verb

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 rubout
Noun
Investigators suspect Robinson wanted the rubout. — Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
The News started a morning edition to rub out its competitor. — Tim Kiska, Detroit Free Press, 21 Dec. 2024 Apply additional pressure while attempting to rub out these stains, but don't go crazy. — Gia Yetikyel, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2024 See All Example Sentences for rubout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubout
  1. murder
  2. destroy
  3. assassinate
  4. eradicate
  5. homicide
  6. ruin
  7. slay
  8. erase
Noun
  • Burks personally prosecuted five capital murder death penalty cases during her time at the district attorney’s office.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The murder of two Israeli soldiers in the West Bank is the jumping-off point for a large-scale invasion of the Palestinian territory, a move that would further test the nation’s fraying relationship with the United States.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of murder
Verb
  • The students on Thursday asked public servants to prevent outgoing officials from destroying documentation or evidence of potential wrongdoing.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
  • According to the Federal Trade Commission, destroy anything containing sensitive information to protect yourself from identity theft.
    — Andee Tagle, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of destroy
Verb
  • Moscow even planned to assassinate Armin Papperger, the CEO of the German defense giant Rheinmetall, to undermine the continent’s support for Ukraine.
    — Sam Mullins, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2026
  • In Cucuta, next to the border with Venezuela, authorities are investigating the murder of a former deputy mayor, who was assassinated on Monday night while on his way home.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of assassinate
Verb
  • Through hidden fees and poor service, traditional banks have alienated many customers, while online banking and ATMs have eradicated differences between banks.
    — Jeffrey I. Cole, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Burnham has also made pledges about reducing, and even eradicating, homelessness, improving care for the elderly and meeting NATO targets on defense spending.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of eradicate
Noun
  • During a retrial in 2019, one of the victims and a co-defendant testified that their previous testimony implicating Bennett was coerced by a then-homicide detective.
    — CBS Philadelphia, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Utah authorities have identified notorious serial killer Ted Bundy as the killer of 17-year-old Melissa Ann Smith, closing a homicide investigation 52 years to the day after her body was discovered.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of homicide
Verb
  • One accidental move could ruin the attempt, requiring a correction at best, and a possible restart at worst.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Others have used it to remove oily stains from their toddlers like crayon marks on carpet, and one reviewer says it’s saved many of their clothes from being ruined in a household with unavoidable messes from both kids and pets.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of ruin
Verb
  • The kind of beast Riley and the Trojans have struggled to slay.
    — Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
  • My Morning Jacket has now earned their own history in the room, with a total of 18 shows played and slayed.
    — Benjy Eisen, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of slay
Verb
  • With an over 2% gain Thursday, Johnson & Johnson has erased all of its post-earnings sell-off.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Keep in mind that removing a search result does not erase the information from the original website.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of erase

Browse Nearby Words

rubicund
rubout
rub out
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Cite this Entry

“Rubout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubout. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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