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
The Riley County Police Department told The Manhattan Mercury that there were no suspicions of foul play in Fleischaker’s death.
—
Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
While there’s still no credible evidence of any foul play or a throughline that connects these deaths and disappearances — many of the individuals appear to have died of natural causes — the list continues to grow.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 29 Apr. 2026
Federal officials say possible foul play is suspected, noting Hou’s bank accounts were depleted before law enforcement was even notified of his disappearance.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
When bumbling village policeman Derry (an endearing Nicholas Braun) dismisses any suspicion of foul play despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, it’s left to the sheep to prove otherwise — despite no ability to converse with their human counterparts beyond Lassie-style leading and hinting.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foul play
Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
While there’s still no credible evidence of any foul play or a throughline that connects these deaths and disappearances — many of the individuals appear to have died of natural causes — the list continues to grow.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 29 Apr. 2026
Federal officials say possible foul play is suspected, noting Hou’s bank accounts were depleted before law enforcement was even notified of his disappearance.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
When bumbling village policeman Derry (an endearing Nicholas Braun) dismisses any suspicion of foul play despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, it’s left to the sheep to prove otherwise — despite no ability to converse with their human counterparts beyond Lassie-style leading and hinting.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foul play
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foul play
Noun
-
Judy was found guilty of murder in 1983, and served thirty-eight years, mostly in Bedford Hills Correctional Facility.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Though Robert and Alexander were both initially charged with murder, prosecutors agreed to a plea deal.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
3 May 2026
Noun
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That's because Winnie is accused of encouraging some of the worst Black-on-Black violence in the townships during apartheid in the 1980's.—
Kate Bartlett,
NPR,
2 May 2026
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Historian Marvin Dunn echoed that concern, describing a disconnect among younger Black people who did not live through — and in many cases were never deeply taught about — the violence, intimidation and systemic barriers that shaped earlier generations’ fight for the ballot.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Jackson's death was later declared a homicide at the hands of Murray, who administered the fatal dose of Propofol.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
-
More than two decades after a North Carolina teen died in what was considered a hit-and-run, investigators now say a police officer has been identified as a person of interest in the homicide case.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
She was booked early the next morning and, according to a law enforcement source, Spears’ blood was drawn at Los Robles Regional Medical Center.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
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Hillsborough sheriff’s investigators found what tested positive for blood in the apartment Limon and Abugharbieh shared with a third roommate in the Avalon Heights apartments, an off-campus complex where USF students live.—
Tony Marrero,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
The slain man’s parents own and live in a building about a mile-and-a-half away from where the killing happened.—
Sheetal Banchariya,
New York Daily News,
4 May 2026
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Police said at the time of the killing that the people who stole the Acura mistakenly assumed it was abandoned and drove it to the encampment.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foul play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foul%20play. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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