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 For the men's competition, Jannik Sinner has been ruled out due to injury. — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026 In addition to Trayanum, Jets guard Anez Cooper (shoulder) also suffered an injury in the first half and was quickly ruled out. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 29 Aug. 2026 Mangum raced to third and was ruled out before the call was challenged and overturned. — ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026 NaLyssa Smith has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 season, the Las Vegas Aces announced Thursday. — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rule out

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rule out

Verb

GitLab earned 24 cents per share, excluding items, on revenues of $286 million in the second quarter, beating estimates for 18 cents and $273 million, respectively, according to LSEG.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is excluding two measles deaths reported by Pennsylvania health officials last week from its latest update of national measles data.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of exclude

Verb

And earlier this year, the nation’s second largest school district, Los Angeles Unified, banned in-school screen use for students in preschool through first grade and curbed screen time for older students.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
Walruses were once hunted in vast numbers, for their blubber, hides and ivory, driving them close to extinction in Svalbard’s waters, before hunting was banned in 1952.

— Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of ban

Verb

The designation barred defense contractors from using Anthropic's technology in their work with the agency.

— Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
In an agricultural county where Latinos make up 27% of residents, Idaho leaders encourage local cooperation with ICE — a level of coordination barred by sanctuary laws in neighboring states.

— Rachel Spacek, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of bar

Verb

Cancer vaccines require additional drugs called adjuvants in order to activate and start eliminating cancer cells.

— Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
While both undergo steps in manufacturing to eliminate potentially harmful microorganisms, liquid infant formula in ready-to-feed bottles undergoes an additional sterility step to become commercially sterile.

— Dr. Jade Cobern, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of eliminate

Verb

Under new defensive coordinator Gary Patterson, USC shut out San Jose Staté in the first half, but its depth issues on defense were exposed in the fourth quarter.

— Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
But Lake Zurich was shut out by Fremd in Week 1 and decided to start this rematch against Antioch with a simple plan.

— Mike McGraw, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of shut out

Verb

He was subsequently frozen out of the Chelsea squad to begin the following season before joining West Ham in January.

— Sam Joseph, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Pluto's atmosphere appears to be freezing out as the dwarf planet moves ever further away from the sun, according to careful observations of Pluto astronomers made as it was seen passing in front of stars in the sky.

— Keith Cooper, Space.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of freeze out

Verb

The problem is, Isolde is very busy with work, so Ry is often left to herself with four alarms a day to take medication to prevent seizures.

— Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Shingles, which can cause painful rashes, fever, chills, headaches and fatigue, can be prevented by getting the two-dose vaccine, which is about 90% effective in the elderly.

— Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of prevent

Verb

The law is aimed at prohibiting children from obtaining books and movies with obscene content.

— Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 28 Aug. 2026
Other efforts to battle the practice Maryland was the first in the country to prohibit large grocery stores and delivery services from using personal data to set prices for specific customers.

— Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 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 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of rule out

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes