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
ABC News, 23 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
McCollum was reviewed for a hostile act and called for a technical foul after kicking his leg up on a jumper into Brunson's groin area, and the Hawks twice intentionally fouled backup center Mitchell Robinson, and the poor foul shooter went 1 for 4.
—CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
Phoenix bounced back to cut the deficit to 65-62 at the break after Green completed a four-point play — hitting a 3 while being fouled — with one second remaining.
—David Brandt, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Goodwin scored on a reverse layup and was fouled.
—Doug Haller, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
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
Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
Victor 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.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Apr. 2026
Edwards turned the ball over with 31 seconds left and Christian Braun got fouled at the other end after Jokic passed up a floater to tie it.
—CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
The Rapids dominated possession in the first half, but Messi scored on a penalty kick to give Miami the lead in the 18th minute after Bright got fouled in the box after stealing the ball in the six-yard box.
—Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
The Wolves held Denver to 46% shooting, including 32% from distance, but fouled 25 times which led to 33 Nuggets free throws.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026
The Celtics’ backup center allowed two makes at the rim by his counterpart, Mitchell Robinson, fouled Robinson on a lob and committed a turnover that led to a fast-break layup by Jordan Clarkson.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
As the Giants’ Landen Roupp threw a pitch to the Mets’ Jorge Polanco — who fouled the ball off his foot — the camera kept cutting back to the mom.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026
The camera briefly pans back to the mound as the Giants’ Landen Roupp threw a pitch to Jorge Polanco, who fouled the ball off his foot.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Booker made a pull-up jumper and was fouled.
—ABC News, 23 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
McCollum was reviewed for a hostile act and called for a technical foul after kicking his leg up on a jumper into Brunson's groin area, and the Hawks twice intentionally fouled backup center Mitchell Robinson, and the poor foul shooter went 1 for 4.
—CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
Phoenix bounced back to cut the deficit to 65-62 at the break after Green completed a four-point play — hitting a 3 while being fouled — with one second remaining.
—David Brandt, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Goodwin scored on a reverse layup and was fouled.
—Doug Haller, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
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
Verb
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
Victor 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.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Apr. 2026
Edwards turned the ball over with 31 seconds left and Christian Braun got fouled at the other end after Jokic passed up a floater to tie it.
—CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
The Rapids dominated possession in the first half, but Messi scored on a penalty kick to give Miami the lead in the 18th minute after Bright got fouled in the box after stealing the ball in the six-yard box.
—Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
The Wolves held Denver to 46% shooting, including 32% from distance, but fouled 25 times which led to 33 Nuggets free throws.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026
The Celtics’ backup center allowed two makes at the rim by his counterpart, Mitchell Robinson, fouled Robinson on a lob and committed a turnover that led to a fast-break layup by Jordan Clarkson.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
As the Giants’ Landen Roupp threw a pitch to the Mets’ Jorge Polanco — who fouled the ball off his foot — the camera kept cutting back to the mom.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026
The camera briefly pans back to the mound as the Giants’ Landen Roupp threw a pitch to Jorge Polanco, who fouled the ball off his foot.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fouled
Adjective
-
Another method involves covering contaminated areas with clean soil, clay or concrete.—
Eduardo B. Farfán,
The Conversation,
21 Apr. 2026
-
On contaminated land that is too dangerous for human life, the world’s wildest horses roam free.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Additional surveillance footage showed Marcelin in his building's laundry room cleaning a kitchen mat that appears stained with blood, according to prosecutors.—
Ben Brachfeld,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
One of them, Amy, a blond child with limp ponytails and a thin dress that looks like it might have been stained, stands outside a porch door, her fists balled up, mouth open, angry or unhappy or both.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There is no remediation if the waters in it are polluted by copper sulfide and nickel mining.—
Mary Murphy,
Twin Cities,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The heavy elements produced in the violent death of one first generation star swiftly polluted a primordial cloud of molecular hydrogen and helium that subsequently collapsed to form SDSS J0715-7334.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
16 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 30 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
