as in defeat
failure to win a contest
took a terrible drubbing in last night's basketball game
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pounding
to strike repeatedly
a crowd was drubbing the purse snatcher when the police arrived on the scene
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in whipping
to defeat by a large margin
we drubbed our traditional football rivals so badly that it was basically no contest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of drubbing
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
The drubbing moved the Sox to 42-38 on the season, and kept them in sole possession of first place in the AL Central.
—
Zach Dean Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2026
Qatar will be reeling after their 6-0 drubbing by Canada, while Bosnia have been competitive before conceding late goals.
—
The Athletic Soccer Experts,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
And now Starmer himself is out less than two years into a five-year mandate, his Labour government undone by a local-election drubbing and a right-wing populist rise that has scrambled the country’s two-party map.
—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
After Labour was handed a drubbing by voters in May's local and regional elections, the party took action.
—
ABC News,
22 June 2026
And without Burnham’s presence, no Labour leadership race can really materialize despite seven ministers resigning from Starmer’s government since a drubbing for the party in May’s local elections, which do not affect the national government but provide an important indication of the public’s mood.
—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Coral Springs Charter won its semifinal with a 14-0 drubbing of Lakeland McKeel.
—
Gary Curreri,
Sun Sentinel,
23 May 2026
The Mavericks’ most recent conquest of the team from Texas was a 7-4 drubbing of the Americans on Wednesday night in Game 3.
—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 May 2026
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
Barça noted the forward’s impressive tally of 72 goals in 131 games - two of which came in the recent 4-0 Champions League drubbing of Lyon, which gave the Catalans their fourth title in the European competition.
—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
The drubbing moved the Sox to 42-38 on the season, and kept them in sole possession of first place in the AL Central.
—
Zach Dean Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2026
Qatar will be reeling after their 6-0 drubbing by Canada, while Bosnia have been competitive before conceding late goals.
—
The Athletic Soccer Experts,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
And now Starmer himself is out less than two years into a five-year mandate, his Labour government undone by a local-election drubbing and a right-wing populist rise that has scrambled the country’s two-party map.
—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
After Labour was handed a drubbing by voters in May's local and regional elections, the party took action.
—
ABC News,
22 June 2026
And without Burnham’s presence, no Labour leadership race can really materialize despite seven ministers resigning from Starmer’s government since a drubbing for the party in May’s local elections, which do not affect the national government but provide an important indication of the public’s mood.
—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Coral Springs Charter won its semifinal with a 14-0 drubbing of Lakeland McKeel.
—
Gary Curreri,
Sun Sentinel,
23 May 2026
The Mavericks’ most recent conquest of the team from Texas was a 7-4 drubbing of the Americans on Wednesday night in Game 3.
—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 May 2026
Verb
The mighty Mariners, who mashed five solo home runs at raucous T-Mobile Park, clinched their title by drubbing Major League Baseball’s doormat, aka the Colorado Rockies, 9-2.
—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drubbing
Noun
-
A little more than an hour before his post-match press conference in the bowels of SoFi Stadium, Pochettino watched his USA team give up a last-second goal to Turkey that ensured a 3-2 defeat in this final match of the group stage.
-
News of Custer's defeat stunned Americans, who were celebrating their country's centennial.
Verb
-
Be mesmerized by the dazzling lasers and pulse-pounding tunes from the movie in this unforgettable experience.
-
An apartment surveillance video captured a man pounding on the window, before Davis gave him a key.
Verb
-
And a Cut Absolute is whipping around upon seeing the person and walking away.
-
Patrick Evans made it to the top step of the Motocross Best Trick event with his electric bike, whipping out a no-handed front flip to loud cheers from the crowd before climbing back up the ramp to celebrate.
Noun
-
Cruz, who also gave up an RBI single to Anthony Seigler and a game-tying sac fly to Tsung-Che Cheng, made sure to take responsibility for his part in the loss.
-
But shareholders have pushed back against hefty pay packages, which come during a period of upheaval in Hollywood that has been buffeted by job losses from media consolidation and outsourcing.
Verb
-
After milking, the cows would return themselves to their fresh pasture and spend the day grazing, snoozing, licking one another, and cooling off in the shade of pine trees.
-
Bring along a friend who wouldn’t be able to indulge in these kinds of finger-licking treats otherwise.
Verb
-
French officials condemned the damage to the ancient monastery, comparing it to bombing Notre-Dame, while Ukrainian religious leaders called it a crime against humanity.
-
Another bad fix bombing out the moment it was most needed.
Noun
-
But if the stock market rally that powers the divide fizzles out, the economy could take a significant beating.
-
Prosecutors allege that six of Arnold’s associates actually carried out the crimes, holding, beating and pistol-whipping the victims, and that Arnold wasn’t there at the time.
Verb
-
Unfortunately, this can lead to some individuals lashing out in response to their own insecurities, hate and low bar of aptitude, which is confirmed by the tenor of the attacks.
-
Criminal Minds star Paget Brewster is apologizing after lashing out at a critic.
Cite this Entry
“Drubbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drubbing. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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