drub

American  

[druhb] / drʌb /

verb (used with object)

drubbed, drubbing

1. to beat with a stick or the like; cudgel; flog; thrash.

2. to defeat decisively, as in a game or contest.

3. to drive as if by flogging.

   Latin grammar was drubbed into their heads.

4. to stamp (the feet).

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noun

1. a blow with a stick or the like.

drub British  

/ drʌb /

verb

1. to beat as with a stick; cudgel; club

2. to defeat utterly, as in a contest

3. to drum or stamp (the feet)

4. to instil with force or repetition

   the master drubbed Latin into the boys

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noun

1. a blow, as from a stick

Other Word Forms

• drubber noun
• undrubbed adjective

Etymology

Origin of drub

1625–35; perhaps by uncertain mediation < Arabic ḍarb blow, beating

Example Sentences

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

Velchaninoff would have given worlds to get up and drub the impertinent young rascal and drag him out of the house by the ear; but he could not contain himself, and burst out laughing.

From Uncle's dream; And The Permanent Husband by Dostoyevsky, Fyodor

Related Words

• clobber
• spank
• trounce
• wallop