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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Miami Herald, 10 June 2025
Bogaerts also drew a walk with one out before Cronenworth popped out in foul territory, bringing Wade to the plate.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2025
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 27 May 2025
The seventh pitch was a curveball at the bottom of the zone that Chapman fouled.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for foul
Adjective
Fortes hit his second home run of the season in the third inning off Pirates starter Mitch Keller (1-9), sneaking it just inside the left field foul pole to give the Marlins a 2-0 lead.
—Miami Herald, 10 June 2025
Bogaerts also drew a walk with one out before Cronenworth popped out in foul territory, bringing Wade to the plate.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2025
Verb
Yet the Thunder held Minnesota off, executing the plan of fouling while up three points in the closing moments of a contest to near perfection.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 27 May 2025
The seventh pitch was a curveball at the bottom of the zone that Chapman fouled.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for foul
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foul
Adjective
-
Reina, Fil-Am team center back, brings us on this turbulent journey, culminating in an intimate trip to her grandmother’s hometown in the Philippines.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
25 June 2025
-
Even Zelensky – who has had a turbulent relationship with Trump – came away with wins.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
The legacy of slavery was an undertone — overtone, really — to Our Native Daughters’ lone album, so this first set naturally contained an unfair share of the most emotionally rife numbers of the night.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
21 June 2025
-
The second myth, peddled by Governor Newsom, is that trans kids have an unfair advantage in sports.—
Gavin Yamey,
Time,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
First came the disgusting pictures of waters so fouled that they were often compared to rotting guacamole.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 June 2025
-
Republicans seem to try to outdo each other to see who can be the most hateful and disgusting.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
26 June 2025
Adjective
-
The ex-data processor for the Boston Transportation Department was previously convicted in Suffolk Superior Court of: rape of a child, assault to rape a child, indecent assault and battery on a child, disseminating obscene material to a minor, and possession of child pornography.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
24 June 2025
-
But the legal standard for what qualifies as obscene is extremely high.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 June 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
-
Troubled Factories: The medications came mostly from plants in India where inspectors found contaminated drugs, filthy labs and falsified records.—
Debbie Cenziper,
ProPublica,
17 June 2025
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The next year, his fame reached a new echelon after the release of Pumping Iron, a docudrama that highlighted Schwarzenegger's strange charisma and filthy sense of humor.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
12 June 2025
Verb
-
And for nights when you can't be bothered to dirty a million dishes just to get dinner on the table, there's an air fryer from Ninja.—
Sarah Felbin,
SELF,
23 May 2025
-
Crème Brûlée Steve Granitz Crème brûlée is like butter blonde, but dirtied up a bit for a browned, warm tint.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
2 May 2025
Verb
-
The group is also likely to vote in October on whether to impose financial penalties on some polluting vessels.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
18 June 2025
-
The study found many of these areas remain disconnected from national grids and are highly dependent on costly and polluting diesel generators.—
Jamie Hailstone,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foul. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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