drub
Americanverb (used with object)
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to beat with a stick or the like; cudgel; flog; thrash.
-
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
"I adjure thee, thou devil," said the Friar Gonsol from afar off, "I adjure thee give me that booke else I will take thee by thy horns and hoofs and drub thy ribs together!"
From The Wit and Humor of America, Volume IV. (of X.) by Marshall Pinckney Wilder
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
The Cardinals’ friskiness is being chatted about because of preseason expectations, but they’ve quietly been drubbed the last three weeks, losing by more than two touchdowns in all three weeks while failing to cover.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 20, 2023
Protasiewicz drubbed Kelly by double digits, according to unofficial returns.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 5, 2023
"Did you foresee in your prophecies this mornin' that you'd get yourself well drubbed before night?" asked Dalton, bristling up.
From The Black Prophet: A Tale Of Irish Famine Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of William Carleton, Volume Three by William Carleton
He’d take a drubbing in the vote, and he’s far too smart to let that happen.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026
Sunday's 6-2 drubbing of Panama in their penultimate match before the World Cup kicks off was encouraging.
From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised on Saturday he would "listen to voters" after his Labour party received a historic drubbing in local and regional elections.
From Barron's ● May 9, 2026
Grant did not avoid responsibility for the drubbing he’d just taken.
From Slate ● Apr. 13, 2026
She gave me a nice drubbing when I finally turned up with it.
From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
