as in contaminated
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Dissimilar Words
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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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fouled
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
Ijadimbola was immediately fouled and made 1 of 2 free throws at the other end.
—Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
At the time, a team got one free throw when fouled near end of game, but could elect instead to inbound the ball.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
Then Mullins was fouled on a 3-pointer, Ross slammed down an emphatic two-handed dunk and Karaban blocked a shot at the other end, which lead to a technical foul on UCLA head coach Mick Cronin.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 23 Mar. 2026
Struggling himself, Stirtz missed again — his 11th miss in 16 attempts — but Florida sophomore reserve Isaiah Brown was fouled after securing the rebound with eights seconds remaining.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
Clemson was down by one point in the fourth quarter when Dunn was fouled while making a Euro step layup with 53 seconds left, then hit the ensuing foul shot to switch the advantage to 61-59 in the Trojans’ favor.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
Lewis was fouled and hit two free throws to ice the game.
—CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Still, the job wasn’t finished, as Henri Veesaar was fouled in the lane on the other end and sent to the line for two free throws.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
Yorke worked the count to 2-2 and fouled off a couple of pitches before Helsley delivered a 99 mph fastball that home plate umpire Dan Iassogna ruled a ball.
—CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
Tampa Bay’s Nick Fortes fouled a 100-mph fastball from Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski straight back.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Just hold it and wait to be fouled, and the shot never happens.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski was on the bump for the Milwaukee Brewers facing Nick Fortes of the Tampa Bay Rays when Fortes fouled the pitch off.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Instead of waiting to be fouled, Cayden Boozer — who shoots about 81% from the line — tried for one more pass.
—Noah Trister, Baltimore Sun, 29 Mar. 2026
Canada got one back in the 67th minute when David coolly buried a penalty after Buchanan was fouled by Ellertsson.
—ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
Five straight pitches were fouled off, the final one a slider that broke away off the plate after three pitches up and in and a changeup low and inside.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Shamet was fouled on the play and missed the and-one free throw, but second-year backup big man Ariel Hukporti grabbed the offensive rebound to create a second shot opportunity.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
Ijadimbola was immediately fouled and made 1 of 2 free throws at the other end.
—Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
At the time, a team got one free throw when fouled near end of game, but could elect instead to inbound the ball.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
Then Mullins was fouled on a 3-pointer, Ross slammed down an emphatic two-handed dunk and Karaban blocked a shot at the other end, which lead to a technical foul on UCLA head coach Mick Cronin.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 23 Mar. 2026
Struggling himself, Stirtz missed again — his 11th miss in 16 attempts — but Florida sophomore reserve Isaiah Brown was fouled after securing the rebound with eights seconds remaining.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
Clemson was down by one point in the fourth quarter when Dunn was fouled while making a Euro step layup with 53 seconds left, then hit the ensuing foul shot to switch the advantage to 61-59 in the Trojans’ favor.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
Lewis was fouled and hit two free throws to ice the game.
—CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Still, the job wasn’t finished, as Henri Veesaar was fouled in the lane on the other end and sent to the line for two free throws.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
The Longhorns again came within striking distance of the lead when Justice Carlton made a put-back jumper and was fouled by Betts for a three-point play opportunity.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
Yorke worked the count to 2-2 and fouled off a couple of pitches before Helsley delivered a 99 mph fastball that home plate umpire Dan Iassogna ruled a ball.
—CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
Tampa Bay’s Nick Fortes fouled a 100-mph fastball from Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski straight back.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Just hold it and wait to be fouled, and the shot never happens.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski was on the bump for the Milwaukee Brewers facing Nick Fortes of the Tampa Bay Rays when Fortes fouled the pitch off.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Instead of waiting to be fouled, Cayden Boozer — who shoots about 81% from the line — tried for one more pass.
—Noah Trister, Baltimore Sun, 29 Mar. 2026
Canada got one back in the 67th minute when David coolly buried a penalty after Buchanan was fouled by Ellertsson.
—ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
Five straight pitches were fouled off, the final one a slider that broke away off the plate after three pitches up and in and a changeup low and inside.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fouled
Adjective
-
Swimming in contaminated water can lead to gastroenteritis that appears up to 12 days later, or other types of infections or illnesses.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Crews spent hours after the fire was out taking inventory and clearing out contaminated equipment.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
My spacious room in the heritage section had stained cedar headboards with gorgeous grain, a large comfortable sofa and heather grey carpets.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Investigators also reported discovering a partial bare footprint inside the home, later finding that Oninski’s left foot was stained with what appeared to be blood.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In short, the toxic cloud of judgment that Borgli seeks to interrogate has settled around and polluted the reception to the movie itself, forming a kind of life-versus-art ouroboros that, in the eyes of the most cynical marketeers, might seem less a blow than an opportunity.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Sometimes, the water can be polluted and not look brown, but more cloudy or even colorless.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Rockies have been humiliated before in their first home game, but never as badly as this.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The leadership of the country that has threatened the stability and prosperity of the world will eventually be ousted, disempowered and humiliated.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The detail was that Rivas’ body was not only badly decomposed when it was found – it had been dismembered and separated into two bags before being placed in the trunk of the Tesla.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
-
In both cases, the remains were decomposed, and appeared that they may have been moved around multiple locations before being discovered, authorities said.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Those officers are no longer allowed to testify in criminal court cases because of their tainted reputation.—
Dave Savini,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Oil rushed through the sediment and rock and blackened the water.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
My father’s thumb was huge and blackened.—
Kate Crane,
Rolling Stone,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Could Ty Jones, whose autopsy said the 33-year-old died of heart issues, have been poisoned too?—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
But Antonelli also questioned reports the two had been deliberately poisoned.—
Barbie Latza Nadeau,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fouled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fouled. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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