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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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
Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025
Green was fouled on the floor, resulting in two free throws.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2025
But the Warriors will lead going into the break, 55-54, after Jimmy Butler was fouled and made both shots.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 22 Oct. 2025
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
Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Gonzalez fouled Brunson once but otherwise held up respectably against the Knicks star in his maiden shift.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
With the Rockets up one, Durant fouled Gilgeous-Alexander with two seconds left, picking up his sixth personal foul and exiting the game.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
The Brewers trailed the Dodgers 3-1 with two outs and a runner on second in the top of the seventh when Chourio fouled off a Blake Treinen sweeper.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 17 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
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
Adjective
The 6-foot-10 junior scored inside, then stripped the ball from Leopold Levillain at midcourt and dribbled the remaining 45 feet to the basket, scored and was fouled.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025
Green was fouled on the floor, resulting in two free throws.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2025
But the Warriors will lead going into the break, 55-54, after Jimmy Butler was fouled and made both shots.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 22 Oct. 2025
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
Verb
Ohtani was critical of himself for following up a 97-mph hour fastball that Guerrero fouled off with the pitch Guerrero hit for his seventh homer of these playoffs.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Gonzalez fouled Brunson once but otherwise held up respectably against the Knicks star in his maiden shift.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
With the Rockets up one, Durant fouled Gilgeous-Alexander with two seconds left, picking up his sixth personal foul and exiting the game.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
The Brewers trailed the Dodgers 3-1 with two outs and a runner on second in the top of the seventh when Chourio fouled off a Blake Treinen sweeper.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 17 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fouled
Adjective
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Major soil removal underway Meerbott said restoring the park has become a priority as crews work to remove contaminated soil.—
Marybel Rodriguez,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Leptospirosis can also be found in contaminated water or soil and is spread by rodents.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Frank doesn’t mind having people killed for his agenda, but has avoided getting his hands stained with blood.—
Demetrius Patterson,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Cut the blanket into smaller pieces, avoiding areas that are worn, ripped, or stained, and turn them into pillow covers, tote bags, cushions, dog bedding, and more.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
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If it’s harvested from an area that’s been polluted, there’s a possibility it could be contaminated with unsafe minerals like mercury or arsenic.—
Caroline C. Boyle,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
-
He was reared in an environment polluted with drugs, gangs and violence.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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She had never been arrested before and felt humiliated when her mugshot was plastered all over the news after her arrest.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
12 Dec. 2025
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She was humiliated when her oldest son was forced to testify in a divorce case.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The first was that the obstacles were decomposed into cuboids.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
25 Sep. 2025
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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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Federal officials advise customers not to use the tainted cinnamon and throw it away.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Dec. 2025
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Clostridium botulinum can be unevenly spread throughout powdered formula, so not all babies who consume a tainted product will fall ill, according to medical experts.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
25 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The footage from drone cameras shows a large area of industrial Louisville charred and blackened from smoke and fire damage.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
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Skip any skins that look moldy, blackened, or spoiled.—
Cathy Cassata,
Health,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Residents are also urged to watch children closely while playing outdoors where mushrooms grow and to keep pets away, since animals can be poisoned as well.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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In June 2024, Bich poisoned a fourth relative — a teenager — who survived after collapsing and being rushed to the hospital, where doctors discovered cyanide in his stomach and alerted the family, the outlets reported.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
27 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fouled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fouled. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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