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
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
as in contaminated
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fouled
Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2025
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
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
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 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fouled
Verb
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Look for products with one or more of those ingredients, and always test first on a small, inconspicuous area to ensure your carpet won’t be damaged or stained.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
20 Oct. 2025
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Napier’s tenure was also stained by one of the biggest snafus of the name, image and likeness era.—
Matt Baker,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That includes farmers who have had sludge from water treatment plants spread on their land containing PFAS, fire departments, airports and municipalities, people who own land that was polluted by PFAS originating from another nearby property or waste facilities that accepted PFAS.—
Laura Schulte,
jsonline.com,
17 Oct. 2025
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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
Verb
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By the time the cameras stopped clicking and the newsmen flew home, Kentucky had been humiliated in the national press, the onlooker’s violence both disputed and affirmed in accounts of this day.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
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LaBella alleges that she was traumatized and humiliated by the experience.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
16 Oct. 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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There are systems in place to help address the issue of contaminated medications.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
10 Oct. 2025
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Consumers who have received the affected HelloFresh meals are urged not to consume the contaminated product and to throw them away immediately.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Wait until the first frost when the foliage has turned brown, wilted, or mushy and the stems have blackened.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
17 Oct. 2025
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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
Verb
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One of the jurors said deliberations were poisoned by a belief among some jurors that a member of the panel had been paid off by Weinstein or his lawyers.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
11 Oct. 2025
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His family believed he had been poisoned by the spirit, according to the Tennessee State Museum.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Palestinian Authority, long discredited in the West Bank, has been absent in Gaza.—
Mohammed R. Mhawish,
New Yorker,
14 Oct. 2025
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Colorado contends its law simply regulates licensed therapists by banning a practice that major medical groups have deemed harmful and discredited.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fouled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fouled. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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