rule out
Remove from consideration
To rule out is to eliminate from consideration or declare impossible.
Doctors rule out diagnoses through testing; detectives rule out suspects.
The phrase implies methodical exclusion: We can't rule out foul play.
Something ruled out is no longer a viable option.
The opposite—rule in—exists but is far less common.
Drinking establishment
- debarOfficially exclude from participation
- banOfficial restriction on something
- forbidDeclare not allowed
- proscribeOfficially forbid something
exclude · prevent · block · veto · blacklist · disallow · ineligible · restriction
bar
Drinking establishment
- debarOfficially exclude from participation
- banOfficial restriction on something
- forbidDeclare not allowed
proscribe · exclude · prevent · block · veto · blacklist · disallow · ineligible · restriction · criteria
eliminate
Remove completely
omit · overlook · bypass · skip · ignore · neglect · sidestep · eschew · shun · avoid
deny
Refuse to admit
spurn · nix · turn down · shoot down · say no · veto · quash · overrule · repudiate · shut down
- exclusionsexclude, exclusion, excluding, except, exception
- problem-solvingproblem solving, puzzles, riddles, logic, solutions
- decisionschoice, make a decision, choices, yes, no
- dismissdismiss, brush off, brush aside, wave away, wave off
- exclusionexclude, excluded, banned, bans, eliminate
- removalremove, elimination, delete, erasing, erase
rule, out, prohibit, preclude, prohibition, prohibiting, precluded, preclusion, ruled out