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.
-
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
From it sailed Oliver Hazard Perry with his fleet of nine sail to most unmercifully drub the British lion on that tenth day of September, 1813.
From The Bay State Monthly — Volume 2, No. 1, October, 1884 by Various
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
Protasiewicz drubbed Kelly by double digits, according to unofficial returns.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 5, 2023
As the Tampa Bay Lightning were getting drubbed 7-0 by the Colorado Avalanche in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, there was never any serious consideration about pulling reigning playoff MVP Andrei Vasilevskiy.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 21, 2022
Nobody interrupted the bishop, and he closed by pointing out all the mistakes of the English at Agincourt, where there is no doubt they drubbed the French handsomely.
From Francezka by Seawell, Molly Elliot
Curacao's 7-1 drubbing on their World Cup debut may have been what many expected, but no-one would have predicted Livano Comencia's first-half leveller.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026
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
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
I would have to seek advice from Harry, although my estimation of him as a counselor in affairs of the heart had received a substantial drubbing at the hands of the wretched Miss Minerva Goodacre.
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
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.
