1
as in murder
the intentional and unlawful taking of another person's life
the coroner ruled that there was no evidence of foul play
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in violence
the use of brute strength to cause harm to a person or property
the suspect has a long history of foul play, and was once convicted on assault and battery charges
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of foul play
Autopsy results are pending, but the sheriff’s office does not suspect foul play, Linhardt said.
—
David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
No foul play is suspected, said Assistant Chief Timothy Pochran.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
Police have emphasized there are no signs of trauma or foul play.
—Stepheny Price, Fox News, 24 Mar. 2025
At this point there is no indication of foul play, the sources added.
—Jack Moore, ABC News, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foul play
David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
No foul play is suspected, said Assistant Chief Timothy Pochran.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
Police have emphasized there are no signs of trauma or foul play.
—Stepheny Price, Fox News, 24 Mar. 2025
At this point there is no indication of foul play, the sources added.
—Jack Moore, ABC News, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foul play
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foul play
Noun
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Hutchinson's trial judge rejected that, instead agreeing with two prosecution psychologists and saying that no correlation between Hutchinson's diagnosis and the murders had been established, reported the Lakeland Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
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After a jury was unable to reach a verdict in the initial murder trial last year, Read is being retried on charges including second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of a collision causing death.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
2 May 2025
Noun
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In terms of violence, it's got plenty of gunfight and action scenes, plus one somewhat main character gets shot in the face early in the movie.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
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Flores pleaded guilty last year to charges of assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 May 2025
Noun
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Most gun deaths are intentional, with suicides accounting for 58% and homicides for 38% of 46,728 gun deaths in 2023.—
David Yamane,
The Conversation,
1 May 2025
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Dolton, Riverdale deaths The medical examiner’s office also reported a homicide in Dolton involving a Chicago man.—
Mike Nolan,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2025
Noun
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Hunter was immediately urged to go to the emergency room, where she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a form of leukemia that targets the blood and bone marrow.—
Vanessa Etienne,
People.com,
2 May 2025
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Jennifer Whitlock married her husband, Ronnie Whitlock, in Texas in 2021, weeks after he was diagnosed with stage 4 blood cancer.—
Jane Onyanga-Omara,
USA Today,
2 May 2025
Noun
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Shortly before the struggle, the man now identified as a suspect in the killing was captured on several residents’ Ring cameras trying to get into other apartments in the building.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2025
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Unfortunately for Lucas yet another attempt at that wolf ends instead in the accidental killing of the aforementioned father riding by on his horse.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foul play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foul%20play. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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