foul 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfau̇(-ə)l How to pronounce foul (audio)
Definition of foulnext
1
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment a foul taste that made us gag

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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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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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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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5
as in stinking
having an unpleasant smell the foul fumes from the paper mill

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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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foul

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to dirty
to make dirty the mechanic fouled the bath towels with axle grease

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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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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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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective foul differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of foul are dirty, filthy, nasty, and squalid. While all these words mean "conspicuously unclean or impure," foul implies extreme offensiveness and an accumulation of what is rotten or stinking; it can also describe, for example, loathsome behavior.

a foul-smelling open sewer
a foul story of lust and greed

When can dirty be used instead of foul?

Although the words dirty and foul have much in common, dirty emphasizes the presence of dirt more than an emotional reaction to it or, figuratively, stresses meanness or despicableness.

a dirty littered street
don't ask me to do your dirty work

When could filthy be used to replace foul?

The meanings of filthy and foul largely overlap; however, filthy carries a strong suggestion of offensiveness and typically of gradually accumulated dirt that begrimes and besmears. Figuratively, it can also describe disgusting obscenity.

a stained greasy floor, utterly filthy
filthy street language

How is nasty related to other words for foul?

Nasty applies to what is actually foul or is repugnant to one expecting freshness, cleanliness, or sweetness; in practice, however, nasty is often weakened to the point of being no more than a synonym of unpleasant or disagreeable. When used figuratively, nasty implies a peculiarly offensive unpleasantness.

it's a nasty job to clean up after a sick cat
had a nasty fall
his answer gave her a nasty shock
a stand-up comedian known for nasty humor

When would squalid be a good substitute for foul?

In some situations, the words squalid and foul are roughly equivalent. However, squalid adds to the idea of dirtiness and filth that of slovenly neglect. Distinctively, its figurative use implies sordidness as well as baseness and dirtiness.

squalid slums
engaged in a series of squalid affairs

How does the adjective foul differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of foul are dirty, filthy, nasty, and squalid. While all these words mean "conspicuously unclean or impure," foul implies extreme offensiveness and an accumulation of what is rotten or stinking; it can also describe, for example, loathsome behavior.

a foul-smelling open sewer
a foul story of lust and greed

When can dirty be used instead of foul?

Although the words dirty and foul have much in common, dirty emphasizes the presence of dirt more than an emotional reaction to it or, figuratively, stresses meanness or despicableness.

a dirty littered street
don't ask me to do your dirty work

When could filthy be used to replace foul?

The meanings of filthy and foul largely overlap; however, filthy carries a strong suggestion of offensiveness and typically of gradually accumulated dirt that begrimes and besmears. Figuratively, it can also describe disgusting obscenity.

a stained greasy floor, utterly filthy
filthy street language

How is nasty related to other words for foul?

Nasty applies to what is actually foul or is repugnant to one expecting freshness, cleanliness, or sweetness; in practice, however, nasty is often weakened to the point of being no more than a synonym of unpleasant or disagreeable. When used figuratively, nasty implies a peculiarly offensive unpleasantness.

it's a nasty job to clean up after a sick cat
had a nasty fall
his answer gave her a nasty shock
a stand-up comedian known for nasty humor

When would squalid be a good substitute for foul?

In some situations, the words squalid and foul are roughly equivalent. However, squalid adds to the idea of dirtiness and filth that of slovenly neglect. Distinctively, its figurative use implies sordidness as well as baseness and dirtiness.

squalid slums
engaged in a series of squalid affairs

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of foul
Adjective
The UConn coach also complained at halftime that Sarah Strong didn’t get a foul call despite her jersey getting ripped. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026 The ball went of Machado’s foot and into foul territory, allowing Machado to run to second and Merrill to third, putting them both in position to score on Nick Castellanos’ two-out single two batters later. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
Volatile organic compounds and carbon monoxide are the key ingredients in ground-level ozone pollution, which combine on hot days to create a smog that fouls the air. —Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 9 Apr. 2026 The Braves showed their offensive personality by fouling off or blooping some of Detmers’ best work and then taking advantage of the mistakes. —Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for foul
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foul
  1. disgusting
  2. turbulent
  3. unfair
  4. obscene
  5. stinking
  6. filthy
  7. dirty
  8. pollute
Adjective
  • This was in itself disgusting but also came to represent the city’s problems.
    — Rachel Sugar, Curbed, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Living under an openly misogynistic president may have felt freakish in 2017, but by his second term, bigotry became yet another disgusting norm.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of disgusting
Adjective
  • The roots of the day, also celebrated as International Workers Day, go back over a century to a turbulent and pivotal time in labor history.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Banning State Park Sandstone, Minnesota Ninety miles north of Minneapolis on I-35 near the town of Sandstone, thrill-seekers, whitewater canoeists, and kayakers venture to Banning State Park for the turbulent rapids of the Kettle River.
    — Joie Probst, Midwest Living, 10 Apr. 2026
Definition of turbulent
Adjective
  • The amendment, however, would not ban the sale of the products in grocery stores in those areas, an exclusion which opponents see as arbitrary and patently unfair.
    — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
  • The court in March allowed Range’s unfair competition claim to proceed while dismissing its tortious interference claim, which accused CAA of undermining the firm’s potential recruitment of agency employees who wish to become managers by threatening to cancel the equity of defecting workers.
    — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026
Definition of unfair
Adjective
  • Weapon violations dropped more than 13%, and crimes involving pornography or obscene material were down more than 23%, according to the report.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Do better, or consider hiring people who paint a vivid enough picture with words rather than having to lean on photographers who seem to have an obscene bloodlust.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of obscene
Adjective
  • Not the good, high-altitude ozone that shields us from dangerous UV light, but bad ozone, hovering right above ground level — stinking, brownish, grayish photochemical smog.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Their solution to a stinking run was, comically, to rely on less than 23 per cent of possession and pick Madrid off with a classy volley from Martin Satriano, below.
    — Phil Hay, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Definition of stinking
Adjective
  • Kilitch Healthcare had serious quality lapses, in which the facility was filthy, employees were barefoot on the manufacturing floor and the company fraudulently passed products that failed sterility tests.
    — C. Michael White, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Common areas are often filthy, and increasingly populated by drug users.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
Definition of filthy
Verb
  • But as filming continued, Pidgeon appeared to dirty her butter blond with caramel and chocolate shades similar to Bessette-Kennedy’s, thanks to stylist Kari Hill.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 25 Feb. 2026
  • With the help of your Instant Pot, spaghetti and meatballs come together in under an hour without dirtying multiple dishes.
    — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 24 Feb. 2026
Definition of dirty
Verb
  • Many residents from rural areas have lived on the same land for generations, watching a cycle of outside companies profit from extracting the state's resources — from timber to coal and oil and gas — only to pollute and abandon communities afterward.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Many residents from rural areas have lived on the same land for generations, watching a cycle of outside companies profit from extracting the state’s resources — from timber to coal and oil and gas — only to pollute and abandon communities afterward.
    — Margie Mason, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Definition of pollute

Phrases Containing foul

Browse Nearby Words

fought shy of
foul
fouled
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Cite this Entry

“Foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foul. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on foul

Nglish: Translation of foul for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about foul

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