RULE OUT Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

rule out

verb

Definition of rule out

as in to exclude

to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of another loss would rule them out of the tournament

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 rule out James was officially ruled out with lower back pain management in the first of back-to-back games for the Sixers this weekend. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 By that point — more than a decade after my symptoms began — other diseases that mimic MS had been ruled out, but only because I was forced to inquire about them after doctors had wrongly written off MS early in my diagnostic search. — Lindsay Karp, STAT, 23 Oct. 2026 But the tweaks might not be enough to rule out that possibility. — Emma Roth, The Verge, 22 Oct. 2026 In part, that’s because nearly every Jewish party has ruled out the idea of aligning with them. — Ilan Ben Zion, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rule out

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rule out

Verb

Combined with its co-founders' pledge to donate 80% of their equity and an employee donation matching program, roughly 20% of Anthropic's shares will be dedicated to public purposes, excluding any additional shares added later.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
Parillo allegedly excluded her from LHS’s management and declared himself the company’s director, president, secretary, and treasurer.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of exclude

Verb

Now all ordinary cars, buses, taxis, private vehicles, (e-)bikes, scooters and pedicabs will be banned between Selfridges and Ikea by Great Portland Street.

— Will Barker, TheWeek, 26 Oct. 2026
Items listed from employee or family and friends sales are sometimes removed, but those sellers will not be banned from the platform.

— Sophie Lou Wilson, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of ban

Verb

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces a close vote Tuesday, says Iran's leadership must be eliminated.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
Its purpose is to help eliminate malignant cells that may remain after surgery, reducing the chance of another tumor taking hold.

— Mike McRae October 25, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of eliminate

Verb

The Cougars had started the season 1-5 and had one of the nation’s worst-performing offenses, being shut out in 13 of their 20 quarters against FBS opponents.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
Cooper Black made 17 saves in his NHL debut for the Panthers, who were shut out for the first time this season and were playing the second of back-to-back games after a 5-1 road loss to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of shut out

Verb

In a report this month that sharply criticized data center giants including Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft, several Senate Democrats said companies have used nondisclosure agreements to freeze out the public.

— Marc Levy, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
In a report this month that sharply criticized data center giants including Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft, several Senate Democrats said companies have used non-disclosure agreements to freeze out the public.

— Marc Levy, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of freeze out

Verb

Riyadh said the discussions were aimed at keeping diplomatic channels open and preventing another escalation in hostilities.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
Such a concentration of power could prevent the effective maintenance of checks and balances on policy decisions by institutions.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of prevent

Verb

The curfew prohibits anyone from entering or remaining on the Place de la République, where rioting took place Saturday, and the shopping neighborhood of Les Halles, which has been subject to looting.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
If admiration and support for female athletes drive support for prohibiting transgender women from participating in women’s sports, then those who favor Title IX should also favor bans.

— Jesse Rhodes, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of prohibit

Browse Nearby Words

rule (on)

rule out

ruler

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rule out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rule%20out. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of rule out

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

milieu

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes