1
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
a foul taste that made us gag
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in turbulent
marked by wet and windy conditions
the foul weather brought out the windbreakers and rain slickers as everyone braced for a day of rough sailing
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unfair
not being in accordance with the rules or standards of what is fair in sport
an aggressive hockey player who is known for his foul play and readiness for a fight
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in obscene
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society
that movie features nonstop foul language
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in stinking
having an unpleasant smell
the foul fumes from the paper mill
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in filthy
not clean
I wouldn't play in the foul rainwater that's collected in the feeding trough
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to dirty
to make dirty
the mechanic fouled the bath towels with axle grease
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to pollute
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable
industrial pollution fouling the water supply
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to humiliate
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes
the minister was irreparably fouled by baseless rumors and allegations
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4
as in to rot
to go through decomposition
unless you want to smell the organic refuse as it fouls, locate the compost heap away from the house
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of foul
Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
Jayden Stone made two separate trips to the line after Mitchell’s go-ahead shot, making all four foul shots to secure the win.
—Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026
Miles Heide, who grabbed the rebound, scored before the shot clock expired and was fouled.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foul
Adjective
There was no harm, no foul, however.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
Jayden Stone made two separate trips to the line after Mitchell’s go-ahead shot, making all four foul shots to secure the win.
—Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
Dunn made a layup with 31 seconds left in the third quarter and was fouled in the process.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026
Miles Heide, who grabbed the rebound, scored before the shot clock expired and was fouled.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foul
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foul
Adjective
-
The medical ordeals are traumatic and disgusting, but fascinating and full of the quirks of modern life.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Having snow, slush, and (eventually) water all over my floors was a disgusting feeling.—
Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano,
The Spruce,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Use extra caution near the surf zone as these large waves will be capable of sweeping people into the frigid and turbulent ocean water.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The story of the Platonic representation hypothesis paper began in early 2023, a turbulent time for AI researchers.—
Ben Brubaker,
Quanta Magazine,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
On December 31, the unions filed with the State of California, alleging unfair labor practices by Solano County and arguing that Solano is not bargaining in good faith.—
Ashley Sharp,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
But for Brody, the political strategist who surfaced the Maduro trade, the latest episode is just another example of the unfair nature of the financial system.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Indonesia, with the world’s biggest Muslim population, has strict rules that ban the sharing online of content deemed obscene.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Sylvie's storylines are ridiculous, her wardrobe obscene, her audacity unparalleled.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Four plays, 76 yards, in 25 stinking seconds.—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
-
This is about a team with a top-10 payroll whose GM committed too stinking much of it to dogs that can’t, or won’t, pull the sled.—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
22 Dec. 2019
Adjective
-
So many downtown buildings and parking areas are filthy, smelling of urine and unmaintained.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Merry Christmas ya filthy animals.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
26 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
When stormwater dirtied by road runoff, failing septic tanks and fertilizer sullied crystal-clear rivers and lakes, and nobody cared.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Keep them in reserve as a sleep sock to ward off icy toes and prevent sweat and skin oils from dirtying your down sleeping bag.—
Adam Roy,
Outside,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Despite the cesspits of conspiracy-think that pollute contemporary politics, the specific paranoia of Letts’s characters — bugs under the skin, brainwashing, nefarious doctors in government labs — feels less blazingly relevant than comparatively quaint.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Chemical rockets put out huge plumes of polluting exhaust, and for a massive machine like the SpaceX Starship, with 33 first-stage engines, that can add up—especially with hundreds of launches planned.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foul. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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