as in excludes
to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of
another loss would rule them out of the tournament
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Recent Examples of rules out
And to me, that’s very alien to imagine that the Universe could be not following some laws, that there isn’t some set of rules out there that determines what really happens?
—
Big Think, 29 Oct. 2025
None of this rules out an agreement on Chinese investments in the US as part of a broader trade deal.
—semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2025
That rules out fanciful speculation that the likes of Timothée Chalamet, Glen Powell, Austin Butler, Jacob Elordi and others who don’t hail from UK shores are in the running.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025
Well, that rules out a whole lot of major villains that Reeves may have adapted, after previously doing high profile ones like The Riddler, Catwoman (well, sometimes-villain) and the all-time great Colin Farrell Penguin.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
This approach helps untangle cause from coincidence – and rules out confounding factors better than with observational studies.
—New Atlas, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rules out
Verb
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That excludes the outlier years of 2021 and 2022.—
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The report also excludes suicides, though Alexander said the organization is continuing discussions about how to recognize and honor those officers.—
Verb
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The No Secret Police Act, which bans masks on law enforcement officers, addresses how federal agents use anonymity to create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation within communities.—
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The governor signed a bill in 2024 barring online platforms from knowingly providing addictive feeds to minors without their parents’ consent, and which also bans platforms from sending notifications to minors during school and late-night hours.—
Verb
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Ukraine’s martial law bars all men aged 23 to 60 who are eligible for military service from leaving the country, but tens of thousands have fled illegally.—
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The French politician is appealing a conviction that bars her from running for office.—
Verb
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Her tip is to wipe them down with a mild cleaning solution, such as a mix of water and vinegar, for a good clean that eliminates odors.—
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And there's plenty of ways to cook it, like roasting it on high heat, that eliminates the goo while retaining benefits.—
Verb
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However, most apple juices available for purchase have vitamin C added as ascorbic acid, an antioxidant that prevents discoloration and improves the juice's shelf life.—
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The agency said it’s been blocked from sharing information since last year when state lawmakers passed The Rex and Brody Act, which prevents public access to autopsy photos and reports of minors killed through domestic violence.—
Verb
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Resolution 2476-2026 — sponsored by Ward 5 Commissioner Laura Cavender — prohibits township law enforcement officers and resources from participating in the enforcement of non-criminal federal immigration violations.—
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Senate Bill 267, which took effect in January 2024, prohibits landlords from rejecting Section 8 tenants based solely on their credit history.—
Cite this Entry
“Rules out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rules%20out. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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