1
as in stained
to make dirty
the mechanic fouled the bath towels with axle grease
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in polluted
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable
industrial pollution fouling the water supply
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3
as in humiliated
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
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4
as in decomposed
to go through decomposition
unless you want to smell the organic refuse as it fouls, locate the compost heap away from the house
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as in contaminated
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Recent Examples of fouled
Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2025
Dennis Lin, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
During an at-bat between Tigers ace Tarik Skubal and Guardians hitter Angel Martinez, the former delivered a 100-mph fastball that the latter fouled off on an 0-2 count.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025
The Aces were given a lifeline when Fever guard Lexie Hull caught the rebound and was fouled, but missed both free throws.
—Frank Nunns O'Connell 11 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors goes up to shoot and gets fouled by Malik Monk #0 of the Sacramento Kings during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on March 13, 2025 in San Francisco, California.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
The Seattle Mariners’ first baseman fouled off seven straight pitches with an 0-and-2 count in the fifth inning before punching a two-run single that proved to be the difference in the Angels’ 5-3 loss to the Mariners on Saturday night.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 14 Sep. 2025
Sporting was awarded the spot kick after a video review revealed Shapi Suleymanov had been fouled while dribbling in on goal.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
But just as Indiana was on the verge of cutting the lead to a single possession, Powers fouled Clark’s former Iowa teammate Kate Martin on a 3-pointer right in front of Indiana’s bench and the second-year guard swished the shot to erupt the Chase Center crowd.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 1 Sep. 2025
Gavin Sheets fell behind 0-2 and then fouled off five straight pitches before a curveball hit him in the right foot in the fourth inning.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
With the teams tied at 48 in the third quarter, guard Tiffany Hayes was fouled on a drive to the basket.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The Cubs swung at 10 of his offerings, whiffed at six and fouled off the other four.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
During an at-bat between Tigers ace Tarik Skubal and Guardians hitter Angel Martinez, the former delivered a 100-mph fastball that the latter fouled off on an 0-2 count.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025
The Aces were given a lifeline when Fever guard Lexie Hull caught the rebound and was fouled, but missed both free throws.
—Frank Nunns O'Connell 11 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors goes up to shoot and gets fouled by Malik Monk #0 of the Sacramento Kings during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on March 13, 2025 in San Francisco, California.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
The Seattle Mariners’ first baseman fouled off seven straight pitches with an 0-and-2 count in the fifth inning before punching a two-run single that proved to be the difference in the Angels’ 5-3 loss to the Mariners on Saturday night.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 14 Sep. 2025
Sporting was awarded the spot kick after a video review revealed Shapi Suleymanov had been fouled while dribbling in on goal.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
But just as Indiana was on the verge of cutting the lead to a single possession, Powers fouled Clark’s former Iowa teammate Kate Martin on a 3-pointer right in front of Indiana’s bench and the second-year guard swished the shot to erupt the Chase Center crowd.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 1 Sep. 2025
Gavin Sheets fell behind 0-2 and then fouled off five straight pitches before a curveball hit him in the right foot in the fourth inning.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fouled
Verb
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Replace the stained, ripped, and pilling linens with crisp sets to refresh your bedding and ditch or repurpose the miscellaneous ones in your linen cabinet too.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
28 Sep. 2025
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In his third season in Boulder, coach Deion Sanders continues to lament an issue that ruined his first season and stained his second.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, women in cobalt-mining regions have reported reproductive-health concerns such as miscarriages and birth defects; cobalt mining has also polluted croplands.—
Scott W. Stern,
The Atlantic,
2 Oct. 2025
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Directed by series veteran David Silverman, the movie’s plot saw Springfield being confined under a massive glass dome after Homer accidentally polluted the town’s lake.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Sitting in class next to a star athlete destined for Division I football, the future comedy mogul listened as his teacher publicly humiliated him in front of his peers.—
Essence,
Essence,
2 Oct. 2025
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Is he humiliated by being asked to leave surreptitiously for Olivia’s amusement, or is this a game for him too?—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The first was that the obstacles were decomposed into cuboids.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Rivas’ cause and manner of death are still being determined by the medical examiner; the exam is taking longer than usual as the remains were severely decomposed.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In the following years, MSF provided chelation to thousands of children and the government and community organizations undertook the complex job of environmental remediation, laying fresh soil over acres of contaminated land to prevent continued poisoning.—
Tom Frieden,
Big Think,
30 Sep. 2025
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What stores carried the possibly contaminated shrimp?—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Trader Joe’s Cajun style blackened chicken breast fettuccine alfredo is also on the list but only affects four states – Texas not included.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Oct. 2025
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Recalled Trader Joe's pasta sold in Arizona The CDC said listeria contaminated products sold at Trader Joe's were the store's Trader Joe’s Cajun style blackened chicken breast fettucine alfredo, contained in a plastic tray.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
AZCentral.com,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Officials were previously awaiting toxicology results to determine whether the woman had been poisoned.—
Quinlan Bentley,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
2 Oct. 2025
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In March 2018, Ashley checked into a Florida hospital and alleged that Doug was abusive and poisoned her.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Over time, as research increasingly pointed to genetics as a major factor in autism, the theory was discredited.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
26 Sep. 2025
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But many climate scientists have discredited this argument, saying that freezing events can take place even amid climate change—but as time goes on, those cold events will happen less often and won’t last as long.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fouled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fouled. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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