Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb rule_out

3 senses of rule out

Sense 1
preclude, rule out, close out -- (make impossible, especially beforehand)
       => obviate, rid of, eliminate -- (do away with)

Sense 2
rule out, rule in -- (include or exclude by determining judicially or in agreement with rules)
       => rule, decree -- (decide with authority; "The King decreed that all firstborn males should be killed")

Sense 3
rule out, eliminate, winnow out, reject -- (dismiss from consideration or a contest; "John was ruled out as a possible suspect because he had a strong alibi"; "This possibility can be eliminated from our consideration")