drub
Americanverb (used with object)
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to beat with a stick or the like; cudgel; flog; thrash.
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to defeat decisively, as in a game or contest.
-
to drive as if by flogging.
Latin grammar was drubbed into their heads.
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to stamp (the feet).
noun
verb
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to beat as with a stick; cudgel; club
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to defeat utterly, as in a contest
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to drum or stamp (the feet)
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to instil with force or repetition
the master drubbed Latin into the boys
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of drub
1625–35; perhaps by uncertain mediation < Arabic ḍarb blow, beating
Vocabulary lists containing drub
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Bass bounded into office in 2022, buoyed by a broad coalition and Democratic wall of support that helped her drub billionaire mall mogul Rick Caruso, despite Caruso massively outspending her.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 11, 2025
Bass took advantage of the new political landscape to drub her rival, notching a nearly 10-percentage-point margin.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 2022
On March 2, Le Batard began the local hour with a lengthy investigation into how the Los Angeles Lakers managed to drub the Miami Heat the night before, putting up 131 points.
From Slate ● Apr. 13, 2018
After all, the rule of thumb for a century has been drub the bums and play .500 against top teams.
From Washington Post ● May 30, 2016
On the Captain inquiring what had occurred, “It’s little Billy True Blue, sir, standing up and a-swearin’ as how he’ll drub the Frenchmen,” was the answer.
From True Blue by William Henry Giles Kingston
Others have had their moments: Fellow debutants Curacao scored against Germany - despite being drubbed - Jordan pushed Austria for long periods and DR Congo held Portugal.
From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026
At least two bomb cyclone storms drubbed the Bay Area last year, including one in March that resulted in multiple deaths.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 5, 2024
Seattle starter Luis Castillo got rocked by the Red Sox in his worst 2023 outing, giving up seven runs in five innings as the Mariners were drubbed 9-4 on Tuesday.
From Seattle Times ● May 16, 2023
Protasiewicz drubbed Kelly by double digits, according to unofficial returns.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 5, 2023
A gust of wind might have extinguished the light; so I drubbed loudly on the gate and shouted to the sentry, who should have been inside.
From Lords of the North by Agnes C. (Agnes Christina) Laut
Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell, a five-star prospect in his first year as a starter, threw two interceptions and no touchdowns in a 16-point drubbing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026
The building exterior has taken an almost universal drubbing; it looks like a refrigerator that dropped off the Death Star.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026
From the World Cup win at Lord's in 2017 to last year's Ashes drubbing down under.
From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026
It started with a 65-14 drubbing away to Saracens in October as teenage wing Noah Caluori ran in five tries on his first Prem start.
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026
He slept curled around the rusty nail, wind and rain drubbing his tired young body.
From "Abel's Island" by William Steig
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