1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
a foul taste that made us gag
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in stinking
having an unpleasant smell
the foul fumes from the paper mill
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in filthy
not clean
I wouldn't play in the foul rainwater that's collected in the feeding trough
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to dirty
to make dirty
the mechanic fouled the bath towels with axle grease
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of foul
Arkansas Online, 20 June 2025
All told, the group allowed into the United States at least 150 medications or their ingredients from factories with mold, foul water, dirty labs or fraudulent testing protocols.
—Debbie Cenziper, CNN Money, 20 June 2025
Benjamin Royer, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
After Messi made a nice run down the middle of the pitch, Porto midfielder Rodrigo Mora fouled the World Cup champion about a yard outside the penalty arc.
—Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for foul
Adjective
Melted plastic and burned wiring filled the air with a foul smell.
—Arkansas Online, 20 June 2025
All told, the group allowed into the United States at least 150 medications or their ingredients from factories with mold, foul water, dirty labs or fraudulent testing protocols.
—Debbie Cenziper, CNN Money, 20 June 2025
Verb
Roberts gave clean bills of health to Edman (right ankle) and Kim (fouled a ball off his foot).
—Benjamin Royer, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
After Messi made a nice run down the middle of the pitch, Porto midfielder Rodrigo Mora fouled the World Cup champion about a yard outside the penalty arc.
—Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for foul
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foul
Adjective
-
At the tight end position, a turbulent year around him in 2024 didn’t allow for any consistency for Jake Ferguson, especially when factoring in his injuries.—
Nick Harris
July 8,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 July 2025
-
Chapek’s short and turbulent reign ended in 2022 when Iger returned as CEO.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
In December, Lopez blocked that joint bid, saying the auction process was unfair, lacked transparency and the joint bid was questionable.—
Karoline Leonard,
Austin American Statesman,
5 July 2025
-
To this day, Conner’s mother believes the settlement was unfair and saw it as a way to silence critics of the police.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
4 July 2025
Adjective
-
Danny DeVito, who plays the hilarious and disgusting Frank Reynolds on Always Sunny, used to be married to a fellow comedy legend, Rhea Perlman.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
9 July 2025
-
July 7, 2025 Homa included another message from a fan that is far too disgusting to even reiterate.—
Kendall Capps,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
The use of obscene or profane language, personal attack, libel, slander, defamation, physical violence or the threat thereof, as determined by the presiding officer, shall constitute a disturbing a lawful meeting.—
Sharon Coolidge,
The Enquirer,
3 July 2025
-
Meanwhile, the Astors, who had amassed a nearly obscene amount of real estate in New York City, became the country’s first multimillionaires by smuggling opium.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
3 July 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Muttaiah said the man inside the stinking manhole was working without any safety equipment — no gloves, no shoes, no supplemental oxygen.—
Joanna Slater,
Washington Post,
16 Dec. 2019
Adjective
-
These words are so filthy, even 40 years later, that Tribune editors will only allow an edited version to be included here.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
11 July 2025
-
The girl is so filthy that just one look at her gets across the idea that this lifestyle is repellent.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Some were prosthetic buttocks, but others were people’s own buttocks, but in various states, like dirtied down and with partial covering.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
1 July 2025
-
Crow-Armstrong has dirtied up the White Sox in six of those games, batting .458 with eight RBIs and a homer.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
Beware of anyone telling you coal or gas is the answer to high energy bills, especially when their profit margins are tied to these polluting fossil fuels.—
Emily Scarr,
Baltimore Sun,
29 June 2025
-
Adam is showing how even language, the medium of the novel, can be polluted, corrupted, and transformed into a means of exploitation.—
Robert Rubsam,
The Atlantic,
21 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foul. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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