1
as in staining
to make dirty
the mechanic fouled the bath towels with axle grease
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in polluting
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 humiliating
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 decomposing
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fouling
Bidunga of late has been able to block a lot of shots without fouling.
—
Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2026
There was Nevada’s overtime win against Grand Canyon six days later, when the Antelopes led by three and had one of its best free-throw shooters miss a pair … followed by Williams fouling a guy attempting a 3 at the buzzer to force OT.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
The evening started with Cucurella fouling Madueke through his back, but matters balanced out with the winger dropping deeper to take proper strides at his former team-mate.
—Cerys Jones, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Johnson said the Bobcats understand that as a freshman, Hall’s still learning how to defend without fouling.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 1 Feb. 2026
Pope was benched twice for mental lapses, once after fouling a three-point shooter, which wasn’t the first time for this roster.
—Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 24 Jan. 2026
The areas that translate are the same ones that always translate, like taking care of the ball, finishing possessions, getting to the line and defending without fouling.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
In 1969, a well located off Santa Barbara blew out, releasing millions of gallons of oil, which washed up onto beaches, killing wildlife and fouling the waterfront of the popular tourist destination.
—John Ramos, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
Oil slicks spread thousands of miles, fouling beaches in all five Gulf states in what remains the largest marine oil spill in American history.
—Kylie Williams, Miami Herald, 29 Nov. 2025
Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2026
There was Nevada’s overtime win against Grand Canyon six days later, when the Antelopes led by three and had one of its best free-throw shooters miss a pair … followed by Williams fouling a guy attempting a 3 at the buzzer to force OT.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
The evening started with Cucurella fouling Madueke through his back, but matters balanced out with the winger dropping deeper to take proper strides at his former team-mate.
—Cerys Jones, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Johnson said the Bobcats understand that as a freshman, Hall’s still learning how to defend without fouling.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 1 Feb. 2026
Pope was benched twice for mental lapses, once after fouling a three-point shooter, which wasn’t the first time for this roster.
—Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 24 Jan. 2026
The areas that translate are the same ones that always translate, like taking care of the ball, finishing possessions, getting to the line and defending without fouling.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
In 1969, a well located off Santa Barbara blew out, releasing millions of gallons of oil, which washed up onto beaches, killing wildlife and fouling the waterfront of the popular tourist destination.
—John Ramos, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
Oil slicks spread thousands of miles, fouling beaches in all five Gulf states in what remains the largest marine oil spill in American history.
—Kylie Williams, Miami Herald, 29 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fouling
Verb
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Few wardrobe moments are more stressful than staining your beloved cashmere sweater.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
15 Feb. 2026
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Nancy Guthrie had been missing less than three days when family members and reporters, and even an Amazon delivery worker, could be seen wandering onto her property, with drops of her blood still staining the front entryway.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Several clean energy groups said extending the coal plants would raise serious questions about TVA’s decision-making, since the utility has said more natural gas plants were needed to retire polluting coal plants.—
Jonathan Mattise,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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For that reason, many local opponents argue that if compressor stations are going to be expanded, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection should force Iroquois to utilize less-polluting technologies such as all-electric motors.—
John Moritz,
Hartford Courant,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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First there was Norwegian’s Sturla Holm Lægreid confessing to cheating on his girlfriend during a live interview after winning the bronze medal and tearfully begging her to come back (shockingly, humiliating his ex on national television didn’t work).—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
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At one point at the table, Jane ran a fork down the side of Robert's face, leaving red lines, humiliating him.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Funk assures that the softened, decomposing cardboard will allow plants to grow through.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
9 Feb. 2026
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Jon Hallford, a southern Colorado funeral home owner who stashed nearly 200 decomposing bodies and gave families fake ashes, was sentenced on state charges on Friday.—
Maria Braganini,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And Hanceville’s fate is as murky as the fog that pours in at night, blotting out buildings and blackening the road ahead.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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These tungsten atoms would then condense on the slightly cooler inside of the glass bulb, blackening it and dimming the light over time.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There are even tales of them poisoning people and holding funerals for their dead.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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Officials in both Hong Kong and Beijing defended the case against Lai, with the city’s leader John Lee accusing the newspaper of inciting violence and poisoning young minds.—
Kanis Leung,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Supporters of Pahlavi were particularly vocal in Mashhad this month, as attested by the prevalence of pro-monarchy graffiti on city walls, and the regime’s propaganda devoted particular attention to discrediting the former crown prince.—
Davood Moradian,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
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Elordi and Giannulli appeared to be going strong over the next two years, with sources discrediting breakup speculation to PEOPLE in January 2024 and as the two vacationed together in Italy the following September.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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By 2019, Virginia photographer John Plashal caught wind of what was disintegrating on Hankins' out-of-the-way acres.—
Danielle Paquette The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
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Around the world, states were disintegrating, climate systems were approaching tipping points, economies were stagnating, and inequality was rising.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fouling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fouling. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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