1
as in turbulent
marked by wet and windy conditions
the foul weather brought out the windbreakers and rain slickers as everyone braced for a day of rough sailing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unfair
not being in accordance with the rules or standards of what is fair in sport
an aggressive hockey player who is known for his foul play and readiness for a fight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
a foul taste that made us gag
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in obscene
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society
that movie features nonstop foul language
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in stinking
having an unpleasant smell
the foul fumes from the paper mill
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in filthy
not clean
I wouldn't play in the foul rainwater that's collected in the feeding trough
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to dirty
to make dirty
the mechanic fouled the bath towels with axle grease
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to pollute
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 to humiliate
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 to rot
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.
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Recent Examples of foul
James Boyd, New York Times, 18 May 2025
In Game 6, though, the Nuggets lived to fight another day by saddling the foul artist with a taste of his own medicine.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 15 May 2025
Ben Morse, CNN Money, 6 May 2025
The next Yankee batter after Cody Bellinger belted the fourth homer was second baseman Jazz Chisolm Jr., who fouled off the first pitch, took another one, then stepped out of the box in obvious discomfort, twisting from side to side as if to loosen his muscles.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for foul
Adjective
When the game resumed, however, the intensity Reese and the Sky expressed regarding the flagrant foul evaporated.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 18 May 2025
In Game 6, though, the Nuggets lived to fight another day by saddling the foul artist with a taste of his own medicine.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 15 May 2025
Verb
After Gilgeous-Alexander dunked to give the Thunder a three-point lead with 11 seconds left, Oklahoma City decided to foul Gordon without running time off the clock.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 6 May 2025
The next Yankee batter after Cody Bellinger belted the fourth homer was second baseman Jazz Chisolm Jr., who fouled off the first pitch, took another one, then stepped out of the box in obvious discomfort, twisting from side to side as if to loosen his muscles.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for foul
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foul
Adjective
-
This time, there’s still some uneasiness around the organization, mainly rooted in its turbulent recent past.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
-
These steps prevent, rather than heal, costly losses that weaken a company’s cash position, especially in turbulent times.—
Dean Kaplan,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
But critics argue that no taxes on tips is a costly, unfair tax break that will benefit few lower-income Americans.—
Bailey Schulz,
USA Today,
18 May 2025
-
President Trump understands that, when used wisely, tariffs can level the playing field, protect American industries from unfair competition, incentivize U.S. manufacturing, and ultimately strengthen our national security.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
But unfortunately, that also means Big Mouth, the cartoon about all the disgusting, messy parts of growing up from Nick Kroll, must also conclude as well.—
Lucy Ford,
Time,
19 May 2025
-
Victorian Ladies at Lunch In a beautiful regency-era setting, four women eat disgusting foods.—
Rosa Escandon,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2025
Adjective
-
After the man told the boy to get out of the road, the juvenile responded with cursing and an obscene gesture, the report said.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2025
-
Stop into any local bakery and ask for their specialty, many of which contain obscene amounts of egg yolks.—
Jess Fleming,
Twin Cities,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This is about a team with a top-10 payroll whose GM committed too stinking much of it to dogs that can’t, or won’t, pull the sled.—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
22 Dec. 2019
-
Muttaiah said the man inside the stinking manhole was working without any safety equipment — no gloves, no shoes, no supplemental oxygen.—
Joanna Slater,
Washington Post,
16 Dec. 2019
Adjective
-
After being fired from SNL, Silverman scored a part playing a misunderstood filthy comedy writer on The Larry Sanders Show, Shandling’s classic send-up of the talk-show game.—
Stephen Rodrick,
Rolling Stone,
18 May 2025
-
Who doesn’t rinse out (and ideally wash) a filthy blender filled with milky stuff?—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Crème Brûlée Steve Granitz Crème brûlée is like butter blonde, but dirtied up a bit for a browned, warm tint.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
2 May 2025
-
He’s come through with timely hits, dirtied his uniform on the bases and made an impact with his arm in the outfield.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The intent, the critics have said, is in fact to stifle findings about the noxious content that is increasingly polluting social media and political discourse.—
Steven Lee Myers,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
-
Leaks from this antiquated sewer system are polluting Rock Creek and threaten the public health of all those who come in contact with it.—
Dan Gooding
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foul. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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