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Glite Dictionary
to drub

to drub

1 8.8
To beat someone badly in a game or fight
  • verb
  • /drʌb/
translation icon : derrotar
  • The home team managed to drub their rivals with a score of 5-0 in the championship match.

Examples

  • After a tough training session, the boxer confidently expected to drub his opponent in the upcoming fight.

  • Twenty pariahs will drub your corpse!

    Fiction book (1993)

  • They drub into the minds of simple people such a wretched counting up of sins and going to confession, such un-Christian tomfoolery about prayers to God and his saints!

    Academic text (2004)

  • Last season, they drubbed all their competitors, finishing the tournament without a single loss.

Synonyms

to defeat
vsto drub
932 2.1

To beat someone in a game, fight, or contest

is narrower, stressing a strong and decisive beating
to destroy
vsto drub
  • Informal
557 1.7

Beat someone completely in a contest or game

is similar but centers on decisive victory without added shame
to vanquish
vsto drub
  • Formal
109 7.2

Beat someone or something completely in a conflict

is similar but is more informal and action-focused
to lick
vsto drub
  • Informal
39 8.2

To defeat someone completely in a game or fight

is similar but is slightly more old-fashioned or gentle
to whip
vsto drub
36 5.5

To beat someone easily by a large amount

is similar but is slightly more neutral in tone
to cream
vsto drub
  • Informal
20 7.2

To beat an opponent by a large amount

is similar but can appear in both formal and informal use
to bat
vsto drub
20 7.2

To defeat someone completely in a game or contest

is similar but is used more broadly beyond sport
to trounce
vsto drub
14 7.5

To beat an opponent by a large amount in a game or contest

is comparable but feels more physical or rough
to kick-ass
vsto drub
  • Offensive
11 8.7

To beat someone by a large amount in a contest or game

is similar but is standard rather than slang
to demolish
vsto drub
8 3.7

Defeat an opponent completely and easily

is similar but does not always imply humiliation
to clobber
vsto drub
  • Informal
8 7.7

To beat someone completely in a game or fight

is similar but is not always physical or violent
to wipe the floor with
vsto drub
  • Informal
8 7.5

To beat someone completely in a game or contest

is similar but is less colloquial and more direct
to thrash
vsto drub
6 4.5

Beat someone completely in a game or contest

is similar but is used in everyday competitive contexts
to shellack
vsto drub
  • Informal
3 8.5

To beat someone very badly in a game or match

is similar but does not always stress the size of the margin
to worst
vsto drub
1 6.8

To defeat someone completely in a contest

is similar but is more neutral and general
to wallop
vsto drub
  • Informal
1 6.7

To beat someone very easily and completely in a game or contest

is similar but sounds less blunt and rough
to smackdown
vsto drub
  • Slang
8.4

To defeat someone completely in a contest or argument

is similar but can be used privately or less theatrically
to mudhole
vsto drub
  • Informal
9.9

To beat someone by a large amount in a game

is similar but is not marked as specifically regional or slang

How Decisive

to thrash
6 4.5
to drub
1 8.8
to beat
∞ 1.4

Surface Forms

drub infinitive
drubbed past
drubbed past participle
drubbing present participle
drubs third person singular

Etymology

The word drub is best remembered by its old idea of a strong physical beating, so think 'to beat' or 'thrash'. That's why to drub someone today means to defeat them completely, whether in a fight or a game.