Definition of befoul
transitive verb
1
:to make foul (as with dirt or waste)
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Examples of befoul in a Sentence
pollutants that befoul the air and water
unsightly mud and slush befouls the family car every winter
Recent Examples of befoul from the Web
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No matter what, not too far in the future, a standard race in which 33 cars burn fuel at obscene rates and befoul the immediate atmosphere with tire smoke and arrogant levels of noise . .
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The repairs are vital to prevent the runoff of polluted water from the lake into nearby waterways that lead to green algae growth that befouls waterways and threatens marine life.
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The repairs to the dike are vital to prevent the runoff of polluted water from the lake into nearby waterways that lead to green algae growth that befouls waterways and threatens marine life.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'befoul.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of befoul
12th century
befoul Synonyms
Synonyms
dirty, begrime, bemire, besmirch, blacken, daub, distain [archaic], foul, gaum [dialect], grime, mire, muck, muddy, smirch, smudge, soil, stain, sullyAntonyms
clean, cleanseRelated Words
contaminate, defile, pollute, taint; discolor; confuse, disarrange, disarray, dishevel, disorder, draggle, jumble, mess, muddle; colly [chiefly British dialect], crock [dialect]Near Antonyms
decontaminate, purge, purify; disinfect, sanitize; brush, dry-clean, dust, launder, mop, rinse, scour, scrub, sweep, wash, wipe; brighten, deodorize, freshen, renew, spruce (up); straighten (up), tidy (up)BEFOUL Defined for English Language Learners
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See words that rhyme with befoul Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for befoul
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