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

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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 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

The bank also expects revenue to grow annually through 2028, targeting 5% growth that year compared with 2027, excluding notable items and on a constant currency basis.

— Jenny Lee, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
The company has continued to introduce new formats and purchasing options to reach consumers previously excluded by the product’s price or design.

— Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 27 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

Owen did not directly answer Heytens’s hypothetical question, instead insisting that the law at the center of the lawsuit was a violation of the contracts clause of the Constitution, which bars states from passing laws impairing public contracts.

— Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026
His order bars Essayli from participating in or supervising their cases, including overseeing the attorneys handling them.

— Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of bar

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

Privacy rules limit sharing info on discipline Federal privacy law does not categorically prohibit universities from sharing a student’s disciplinary history with housing officials.

— Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
And crucially, deceptive and youth-targeted marketing should be strictly prohibited.

— Amy L. Kennedy, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of prohibit

Browse Nearby Words

rule (on)

rule out

ruler

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Rule out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rule%20out. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of rule out

verb

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