foul play

noun

Definition of foul playnext
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

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 play Hawaii County Police Chief Reed Mahuna said foul play wasn't suspected. — Jonathan Vigliotti, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 Police said a preliminary investigation had not indicated any signs of foul play. — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026 Preliminary findings have not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances, police said, according to WHNS. — Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026 The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for foul play
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foul play
  1. murder
  2. violence
  3. homicide
  4. blood
  5. killing
Noun
  • Karmelo Anthony, now 19, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison after a Collin County jury in June rejected his claims of self-defense during a confrontation with Austin Metcalf in the stadium bleachers last year.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is once again seeking to overturn his state murder conviction in the 2020 killing of George Floyd, according to court documents filed Tuesday.
    — Riley Moser, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of murder
Noun
  • By retracing Berezovska’s footsteps, finding witnesses and hearing from one of the men accused of killing her, CNN has uncovered a tale of violence, strange twists and unanswered questions.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Lúcia added the Maria da Penha law needed updating because violence against women in Brazil is also a matter of power and as many femicides take place out of women’s homes in situations that are reported to police but ignored.
    — Mauricio Savarese, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of violence
Noun
  • The annual homicide rate roughly doubled between 2015 and 2020, surging past 100 lives lost.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The man in the barrel was found to have been shot and was declared a homicide victim.
    — Mark Osborne, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of homicide
Noun
  • Someone with gestational hypertension will need more frequent monitoring, which may include home blood pressure measurements, blood and urine tests, and additional monitoring of fetal growth and well-being.
    — Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Crude is the country’s life blood, accounting for as much as 98% of the country’s exports.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of blood
Noun
  • Diddy, who has repeatedly denied any connection to Shakur’s killing, is now in prison on unrelated charges.
    — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • How the killing unfolded Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Rocco Gagliardi detailed the timeline of the investigation during a news conference on Thursday night.
    — Michael Guise, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of killing

Browse Nearby Words

foulness
foul play
fouls
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Foul play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foul%20play. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on foul play

Nglish: Translation of foul play for Spanish Speakers

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