rout
Crushing one-sided loss
A rout is a disorderly retreat or overwhelming defeat: The battle ended in a rout.
To rout an opponent is to defeat them decisively, scattering their forces.
The word implies not just losing but collapse—an army breaking and fleeing rather than withdrawing in order.
By extension, any lopsided victory: The game was a 42-3 rout.
Defeat thoroughly in conflict
- conquerOvercome by force
- trounceDefeat decisively
- crushCompress with force
- thrashBeat violently or defeat utterly
drub · wallop · clobber · demolish · annihilate · obliterate · decimate · humiliate
Depart swiftly from threat
- scatterDistribute in random directions
- disperseCause to spread apart
- stampedeFrenzied mass flight
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
skedaddle · bolt · escape · withdrawal · flight · disarray · chaos · collapse
vanquish
Defeat thoroughly in conflict
thrash · drub · wallop · clobber · demolish · annihilate · obliterate · decimate · humiliate · outplay
flee
Depart swiftly from threat
panic · skedaddle · bolt · escape · withdrawal · flight · disarray · chaos · collapse · desertion
chaos
Complete disorder and confusion
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
- pandemoniumState of utter confusion
- bedlamState of wild disorder
mayhem · confusion · tumult · disarray · havoc · commotion · uproar · anarchy · frenzy · melee
dig
Unearth by shoveling
root · burrow · grub · snout · forage · trench · hollow · scoop · plow · upturn
- craftsmanshiphandcrafted, craft, handiwork, stitching, welding
- defeatdefeat, beaten, conquered, vanquished, loss
- dominant winsblowout, landslide, sweep, shutout, whitewash
- match resultswin, defeat, draw, tie, victory
- winningvictory, win, winner, winning, triumph
- sports winsknockout, upset, blowout, shutout, sweep
routsqueaker
Barely-won contest
nail-biter · close game · photo finish · close call · cliffhanger
routvictory
Defeating an opponent
triumph · win · conquest · landslide victory · domination
routorderly retreat
Planned military pullback
strategic withdrawal · tactical retreat · fighting retreat · regrouping · rally
- escape routePlanned exit path
- en routeCurrently in transit
- route numberHighway's assigned designation
- paper routeNewspaper distribution circuit
- scenic routeRoad selected for beauty
- bus routePublic transit trajectory
route, routed, routes, routing, router, routs, routers, routable