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
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
Mark was fouled after grabbing the ensuing loose ball and made both free throws to ice the game, 77-71.
—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
Thomas had a chance to tie the game after being fouled on the other end, but missed the front end of a one-and-one.
—Steve Reed, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
Burries was fouled on the inbound pass and put away the game.
—ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
From there, Andrew Nembhard threw the ensuing inbounds pass away before Nesmith fouled Mathurin, who missed both free throws.
—Oc Register, 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
Cox stretched the lead with a pair of double-bonus free throws after Pope fouled him in the backcourt.
—Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
The Mets fouled off 10 of Skenes’ first 27 pitches.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026
The Suns had a chance to take a three-point lead when Wembanyama fouled Rasheer Fleming.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Dallas Mavericks forward Daniel Gafford (21) reacts after being fouled during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Center on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Dallas.
—Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026
Perdomo fell behind 1-2, worked the count full, then fouled off a pair of triple-digit heaters.
—Ronald Blum, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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
Mark was fouled after grabbing the ensuing loose ball and made both free throws to ice the game, 77-71.
—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
Thomas had a chance to tie the game after being fouled on the other end, but missed the front end of a one-and-one.
—Steve Reed, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
Burries was fouled on the inbound pass and put away the game.
—ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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
From there, Andrew Nembhard threw the ensuing inbounds pass away before Nesmith fouled Mathurin, who missed both free throws.
—Oc Register, 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
Cox stretched the lead with a pair of double-bonus free throws after Pope fouled him in the backcourt.
—Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
The Mets fouled off 10 of Skenes’ first 27 pitches.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026
The Suns had a chance to take a three-point lead when Wembanyama fouled Rasheer Fleming.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Dallas Mavericks forward Daniel Gafford (21) reacts after being fouled during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Center on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Dallas.
—Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026
Perdomo fell behind 1-2, worked the count full, then fouled off a pair of triple-digit heaters.
—Ronald Blum, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fouled
Adjective
-
Its contaminated followers were one step removed from the beasts of the field.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The company later recovered more than 888,000 gallons of contaminated fuel that had mixed with other gasoline already in the tanks.—
Jasmine Arenas,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Phillipe’s teeth were often as wine-stained as his customers’.—
Sammy Loren,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
-
His hands were stained navy blue.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
People of color like him and his family worked and lived surrounded by the industries that polluted their air, and many still do.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Decades of such spills and gas flares polluted and degraded the natural environment, while successive Nigerian governments failed to develop our economies.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
At one point in his teenage years, Diaz was publicly humiliated by the football team who forcefully shaved his curly hair.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Walz and Ellison were humiliated and could not account for their blundering.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
7 Mar. 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
-
Grace, her white lace dress blackened with blood, is smoking a cigarette outside of an incinerated mansion that belongs to her in-laws, the Le Domas, who are all dead.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The Israeli strikes on oil facilities sparked massive pillars of fire and blackened the skies above Tehran.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Any one of them can be poisoned.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
21 Mar. 2026
-
In Alabama, the punishment for this audacity had most often involved waking up to her family’s dogs poisoned in the night.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fouled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fouled. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
