Synonyms of foul

foul 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfau̇(-ə)l 

1

as in disgusting

causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment

a foul taste that made us gag

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disgusting
• ugly
• sickening
• horrible
• awful
• offensive
• hideous
• obscene
• obnoxious
• shocking
• nasty
• dreadful
• evil
• unpleasant
• gross
• loathsome
• horrid
• abominable
• odious
• noxious
• revolting
• repulsive
• repugnant
• gruesome
• appalling
• noisome
• terrible
• scandalous
• rancid
• abhorrent
• nauseating
• vile
• repellent
• horrendous
• distasteful
• horrific
• nauseous
• disturbing
• undesirable
• fulsome
• unwanted
• objectionable
• hateful
• disagreeable
• monstrous
• detestable
• miserable
• brackish
• despicable
• heinous
• horrifying
• unwholesome
• grim
• contemptible
• unspeakable
• unsavory
• sick
• ghastly
• unhealthy
• atrocious
• unwelcome
• grisly
• execrable
• frightful
• nightmarish
• lurid
• macabre
• unholy
• exceptionable
• dislikable
• ungodly
• sickly
• barbarous
• uncivilized
• hard
• lousy
• upsetting
• unchristian
• distressing
• sickish
• off-putting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• innocuous
• acceptable
• inoffensive
• sweet
• pleasant
• desirable
• delightful
• delicious
• agreeable
• attractive
• heavenly
• appealing
• congenial
• welcome
• nice
• felicitous
• alluring
• delectable
• enjoyable
• satisfying
• pleasurable
• gratifying
• pleasing
• luscious
• savory
• dreamy
• palatable
• inviting
• likable
• dulcet
• darling
• blessed
• unobjectionable
• healthy
• unexceptionable
• healthful
• salutary
• wholesome
• delightsome
• salubrious
• restorative

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• turbulent
• bleak
• dirty
• rough
• rainy
• nasty
• snowy
• inclement
• stormy
• raw
• tempestuous
• squally
• gusty
• blustery
• windblown
• cloudy
• murky
• breezy
• windswept
• overcast
• hazy
• misty
• blustering
• blowy
• foggy
• soupy
• sunless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clear
• fair
• bright
• sunny
• cloudless
• unclouded
• pleasant
• sunshiny
• clement
• peaceful
• calm
• serene
• placid
• balmy
• rainless
• halcyon

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unfair
• illegal
• nasty
• dirty
• unsportsmanlike
• low
• shameful
• dishonorable
• below the belt
• mean
• ignoble
• shabby
• unjust
• rotten
• immoral
• unscrupulous
• unprincipled
• ungentlemanly
• unethical
• unrighteous
• unchivalrous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• legal
• clean
• fair
• moral
• sportsmanlike
• just
• ethical
• righteous
• sportsmanly
• scrupulous
• honorable
• principled
• unimpeachable
• irreproachable
• law-abiding

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

• obscene
• vulgar
• pornographic
• nasty
• dirty
• filthy
• gross
• offensive
• unacceptable
• crude
• blue
• disgusting
• unpleasant
• suggestive
• indecent
• lewd
• naughty
• impure
• lascivious
• profane
• obnoxious
• coarse
• abusive
• undesirable
• unwanted
• raunchy
• ribald
• bawdy
• unprintable
• locker-room
• smutty
• trashy
• wanton
• gutter
• wicked
• infamous
• stag
• porny
• broad
• X-rated
• scatological
• salty
• indecorous
• soft
• perverted
• loathsome
• objectionable
• salacious
• indelicate
• revolting
• depraved
• off
• unwelcome
• repugnant
• repulsive
• low
• unbecoming
• perverse
• gamy
• barnyard
• racy
• earthy
• abhorrent
• kinky
• coarse-grained
• repellent
• distasteful
• off-color
• immodest
• atrocious
• reprehensible
• risqué
• exceptionable
• censurable
• scurrilous
• blamable
• blameworthy
• louche
• debasing
• hard-core
• soft-core

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clean
• decent
• proper
• wholesome
• correct
• puritanical
• polite
• prudish
• Victorian
• acceptable
• respectable
• decorous
• nice
• innocuous
• staid
• genteel
• pleasant
• appropriate
• inoffensive
• prim
• desirable
• suitable
• agreeable
• pure
• nonobscene
• G-rated
• welcome
• meet
• priggish
• pleasing
• perfect
• becoming
• straitlaced
• seemly
• fit
• spotless
• immaculate
• virginal
• sanctioned
• endorsed
• approved

5

as in stinking

having an unpleasant smell

the foul fumes from the paper mill

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stinking
• ripe
• disgusting
• filthy
• malodorous
• fetid
• smelly
• strong
• noisome
• stinky
• rotting
• reeking
• rotted
• dirty
• rotten
• funky
• fusty
• vile
• musty
• bad
• reeky
• frowsy
• putrid
• stenchy
• nasty
• rank
• offensive
• frowsty
• rancid
• revolting
• repulsive
• spoiled
• stale
• spoiling
• noxious
• odorous
• decaying
• decayed
• skunky
• decomposed
• odoriferous
• decomposing
• odiferous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sweet
• fragrant
• aromatic
• scented
• perfumed
• savory
• redolent
• ambrosial
• spicy
• flowery
• woodsy
• fruity

6

as in filthy

not clean

I wouldn't play in the foul rainwater that's collected in the feeding trough

Synonyms & Similar Words

• filthy
• dirty
• muddy
• stained
• blackened
• dusty
• nasty
• black
• unclean
• messy
• smudged
• sordid
• soiled
• polluted
• greasy
• grimy
• mucky
• dingy
• sloppy
• smutty
• grubby
• befouled
• grungy
• sullied
• uncleanly
• bedraggled
• begrimed
• grotty
• cruddy
• draggled
• chaotic
• contaminated
• besmirched
• impure
• messed
• tainted
• unsanitary
• insanitary
• littered
• confused
• bemired
• unsterile
• unwashed
• slovenly
• uncleaned
• untidy
• defiled
• unsterilized
• muddled
• disordered
• cluttered
• raunchy
• squalid
• unkempt
• sooty
• germy
• scruffy
• jumbled
• disheveled
• rumpled
• shabby
• gunky
• sleazy
• disarranged
• skanky
• mussy
• scuzzy
• disarrayed
• mussed
• crocked
• fuliginous
• collied

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clean
• pure
• clear
• immaculate
• spotless
• cleanly
• unsoiled
• unsullied
• stainless
• unstained
• ultraclean
• limpid
• spick-and-span
• cleaned
• neat
• orderly
• cleansed
• tidy
• perfect
• bleached
• ordered
• untouched
• groomed
• sparkling
• purified
• combed
• flawless
• bright
• shiny
• whitened
• unspotted
• unpolluted
• wholesome
• unblemished
• untainted
• virgin
• undefiled
• taintless

foul

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to dirty

to make dirty

the mechanic fouled the bath towels with axle grease

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dirty
• stain
• blacken
• muck
• soil
• mess
• muddy
• besmirch
• smudge
• befoul
• sully
• mire
• smirch
• pollute
• grime
• daub
• distain
• contaminate
• taint
• gaum
• defile
• bemire
• begrime
• disarray
• discolor
• disorder
• disarrange
• muddle
• jumble
• confuse
• dishevel
• draggle
• crock
• colly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clean
• cleanse
• purge
• purify
• sweep
• wipe
• decontaminate
• wash
• disinfect
• dust
• scrub
• brush
• sanitize
• rinse
• mop
• scour
• spruce (up)
• renew
• launder
• straighten (up)
• freshen
• brighten
• deodorize
• dry-clean
• tidy (up)

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

• pollute
• poison
• contaminate
• taint
• defile
• befoul
• dirty
• infect
• soil
• stain
• foul up
• besmirch
• muddy
• smudge
• sully
• rot
• corrupt
• dilute
• mire
• adulterate
• spoil
• blacken
• smirch
• grime
• water down
• begrime
• doctor

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clean
• purify
• clear
• purge
• cleanse
• clarify
• filter
• decontaminate
• distill
• disinfect
• sterilize
• sanitize

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• humiliate
• discredit
• disgrace
• embarrass
• shame
• dishonor
• humble
• degrade
• insult
• confuse
• debase
• rattle
• demean
• take down
• smirch
• abase
• criticize
• chasten
• lower
• cheapen
• libel
• sink
• minimize
• diminish
• malign
• ridicule
• discountenance
• slander
• decry
• disconcert
• condemn
• mortify
• defile
• disparage
• affront
• detract
• faze
• confound
• defame
• discount
• fluster
• belittle
• write off
• discomfit
• denounce
• castigate
• depreciate
• cry down
• put down
• damn
• abash
• censure
• nonplus
• bad-mouth
• execrate
• reprobate
• reprehend

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• exalt
• hail
• praise
• honor
• elevate
• cheer
• celebrate
• applaud
• cite
• salute
• recognize
• laud
• compliment
• commend
• deify
• aggrandize
• acknowledge
• canonize
• congratulate
• decorate
• eulogize
• boast
• tout
• acclaim
• extol
• fete
• highlight
• play up
• promote
• lift
• dignify
• glorify
• advance
• spotlight
• enshrine
• ennoble
• raise
• magnify
• boost
• upgrade
• enthrone
• uplift
• romanticize
• ensky
• idealize

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

• rot
• decay
• decompose
• disintegrate
• corrupt
• spoil
• perish
• mold
• fall apart
• fester
• putrefy
• deteriorate
• break down
• pollute
• sour
• descend
• contaminate
• go to seed
• turn
• taint
• crumble
• defile
• molder
• rust
• ferment
• degenerate
• curdle
• mortify
• turn off
• sink
• decline
• wither
• dilapidate
• addle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• develop
• mature
• grow
• ripen
• restore
• age
• cleanse
• refresh
• renew
• purify
• better
• improve
• integrate
• compose
• assemble
• ameliorate
• meliorate

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of foul

Adjective

The ball rolled all the way into the Rays’ bullpen in foul territory while Taylor sprinted to third. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

The rotting food has drawn swarms of flies and rats with a foul rancid smell that Boyle Heights residents have said kept them indoors, and business owners have said kept customers away. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026

Verb

Large-scale ocean deployment would introduce challenges involving currents, waves, fouling by marine organisms, material durability, recovery of the adsorbent, and processing costs. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026

A day earlier, Alvarez fouled a ball off his left knee and still appeared in discomfort for the game’s first seven innings. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing foul

• foul play
• foul up