as in contaminated
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
as in stained
to make dirty
the mechanic fouled the bath towels with axle grease
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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 fouled
Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
True to form, on Friday night Richardson went 45-5, fouled and hit 48-8 before surpassing 49 feet on all of his last three jumps.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
In first-half stoppage time, Lavelle was fouled in the box on a sliding challenge from Maddie Moreau.
—ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
Marcus Smart was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 25 seconds to go in the fourth after a Houston turnover and made all three free throws to get the Lakers within three.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
That was before Marcus Smart came up with a steal and got fouled attempting a 3-point shot; and before LeBron James poked the ball away from Rockets guard Reed Sheppard before getting the ball back to sink a game-tying 3-pointer with 13 seconds left.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
The Lakers led by 15 early, but were down six before Smart was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 25 seconds to go after a Houston turnover and made all three free throws.
—CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Timo Werner scored the go-ahead goal in the 78th minute from the penalty spot after Jamar Ricketts was fouled in the box, marking the second goal of the season for the star signing from Germany.
—Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
That's via fouled beaches, disrupted fishing, damage to coastal infrastructure and tourists that catch a whiff of sargassum blooms online and just cancel their hotel reservations.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 2 May 2026
Martínez fouled off the right pitches.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Reese got the best of her 6-foot-7 former teammate early, as Cardoso (three points, four rebounds) fouled her twice on shots down low in the first quarter.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Jensen fouled off three pitches, and one of them was lined right at an EMT.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
The kick was awarded after Gabriel Pec was fouled by Real Salt Lake midfielder Stijn Spierings.
—CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
The kick was awarded after Gabriel Pec was fouled by Real Salt Lake midfielder Stijn Spierings.
—ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
Smart skidded across the floor for a loose ball and was fouled, a jaw-scraping effort that forced him to check his teeth on his way up from the hardwood.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
Wembanyama is in the NBA's concussion protocol after hitting his head on the court after he was fouled by Jrue Holiday on a drive to the basket in the second period of the 106-103 loss to Portland on Tuesday night at the Frost Bank Center.
—Tom Orsborn, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
The two-time All-Star was visibly in pain after being fouled and falling to the floor early in the third quarter.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
True to form, on Friday night Richardson went 45-5, fouled and hit 48-8 before surpassing 49 feet on all of his last three jumps.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
In first-half stoppage time, Lavelle was fouled in the box on a sliding challenge from Maddie Moreau.
—ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
Marcus Smart was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 25 seconds to go in the fourth after a Houston turnover and made all three free throws to get the Lakers within three.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
That was before Marcus Smart came up with a steal and got fouled attempting a 3-point shot; and before LeBron James poked the ball away from Rockets guard Reed Sheppard before getting the ball back to sink a game-tying 3-pointer with 13 seconds left.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
The Lakers led by 15 early, but were down six before Smart was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 25 seconds to go after a Houston turnover and made all three free throws.
—CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Timo Werner scored the go-ahead goal in the 78th minute from the penalty spot after Jamar Ricketts was fouled in the box, marking the second goal of the season for the star signing from Germany.
—Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
That's via fouled beaches, disrupted fishing, damage to coastal infrastructure and tourists that catch a whiff of sargassum blooms online and just cancel their hotel reservations.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
Verb
His 71st pitch Friday night was a sinker to Brice Matthews, who fouled it off for Strike 2.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 2 May 2026
Martínez fouled off the right pitches.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Reese got the best of her 6-foot-7 former teammate early, as Cardoso (three points, four rebounds) fouled her twice on shots down low in the first quarter.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Jensen fouled off three pitches, and one of them was lined right at an EMT.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
The kick was awarded after Gabriel Pec was fouled by Real Salt Lake midfielder Stijn Spierings.
—CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
The kick was awarded after Gabriel Pec was fouled by Real Salt Lake midfielder Stijn Spierings.
—ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
Smart skidded across the floor for a loose ball and was fouled, a jaw-scraping effort that forced him to check his teeth on his way up from the hardwood.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
Wembanyama is in the NBA's concussion protocol after hitting his head on the court after he was fouled by Jrue Holiday on a drive to the basket in the second period of the 106-103 loss to Portland on Tuesday night at the Frost Bank Center.
—Tom Orsborn, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fouled
Adjective
-
These risks are linked to prolonged contact with contaminated water, compounded by limited access to sanitation and healthcare.—
Abraham Nunbogu,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Another method involves covering contaminated areas with clean soil, clay or concrete.—
Eduardo B. Farfán,
The Conversation,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Look for bins that are not coated or stained with toxic finishes.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
On TikTok, short videos often show people traveling to Turkey to fix their uneven or stained teeth and transform their smiles.—
K.H. Koehler,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That is exactly what this film cleverly does — pinpoints the insidious nature of far-right movements and the creeping rhetoric that has polluted our society.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Water sources are often polluted through run-off from lawns that contain herbicides.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This Mets team, with the second-highest MLB payroll at $369 million, had just been humiliated by a franchise that lost 119 games a year ago.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
One such accusation resulted in a federal lawsuit filed in September in which the former head of the Colorado Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind alleged DHS management humiliated and discriminated against him before forcing him out of his job.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Her body was so badly decomposed; no DNA swab could be taken.—
Mary Murphy,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The body was decomposed and dismembered.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
While Liang seeks to distance the company from the tainted elements, Supermicro’s longer-term fate may hinge on whether Nvidia stays close or decides to keep its distance.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The case has it all — backroom deals, bribes, tainted legislation, dark money contributions — even the suicide of a prominent official at the center of the scandal.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Add the unpeeled garlic and toast until blackened, about 5 minutes.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Loss of valuables in the ruins The exteriors of some buildings remained blackened from the flames.—
Kanis Leung,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Who cares about the fact that her friend cheated when her child was poisoned by her husband and her father?—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Weinstein’s lawyers have argued that his New York conviction last year was poisoned by bad blood among jurors.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fouled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fouled. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
