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
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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
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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
On a booking after fouling Mbeumo in the first half, he was hooked again by Hurzeler in the second half.
—
Andy Naylor, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Well, except for fouling on plays that, a year ago, may have gone uncalled.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025
The electrolyzer’s design addresses fouling, current distribution, and thermal management, which are common failure points for electrochemical systems receiving heterogeneous feedstocks.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2025
But drawing an over-aggressive, poor-technique personal foul on a 60-yard attempt for a guy trying a field goal 12 yards longer than any attempt in his career is akin to fouling a basketball player heaving a three-quarters court shot at the buzzer while trailing by two.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2025
He was hurt while fouling off a pitch on Thursday night.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 14 Sep. 2025
In the first inning as the Blue Jays wore down the Yankees by putting balls in play and fouling off pitches, Judge was tested for the first time on a single by Nathan Lukes.
—Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Since our first year there’s been games where there’s kicking each other and fouling each other.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2025
But at least Wenceel Pérez avoided an IL stint after fouling a ball off his foot Saturday.
—Christian Romo, Freep.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Andy Naylor, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Well, except for fouling on plays that, a year ago, may have gone uncalled.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025
The electrolyzer’s design addresses fouling, current distribution, and thermal management, which are common failure points for electrochemical systems receiving heterogeneous feedstocks.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2025
But drawing an over-aggressive, poor-technique personal foul on a 60-yard attempt for a guy trying a field goal 12 yards longer than any attempt in his career is akin to fouling a basketball player heaving a three-quarters court shot at the buzzer while trailing by two.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2025
He was hurt while fouling off a pitch on Thursday night.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 14 Sep. 2025
In the first inning as the Blue Jays wore down the Yankees by putting balls in play and fouling off pitches, Judge was tested for the first time on a single by Nathan Lukes.
—Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Since our first year there’s been games where there’s kicking each other and fouling each other.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2025
But at least Wenceel Pérez avoided an IL stint after fouling a ball off his foot Saturday.
—Christian Romo, Freep.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fouling
Verb
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Remove any heavy objects from the sides of your tub, as these items can cause chips or cracking that can contribute to staining.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
28 Oct. 2025
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Additionally, these shoes are machine washable, so don’t worry about staining the gorgeous light pink shoes on your next adventure!—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This process aims to prevent gas from polluting the air.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
30 Oct. 2025
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In mineral-rich regions of Africa and South America, Chinese firms have unleashed 21st century resource colonialism, exploiting workers and polluting the environment.—
Young Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This announcement, humiliating the involved member, is harmful.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
Oc Register,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Bugs and scientists have long been oddball allies in the effort to understand decomposing bodies, but there's a catch.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
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The round spots seemed neat compared with their surroundings, clear of the layers of decomposing plankton spotted elsewhere on the seafloor.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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High-Heat-Safe Alternatives While enameled cast-iron cookware is excellent to use for braising, roasting, baking, or gentle stovetop cooking, certain high heat applications like searing steak or blackening fish are best done in other types of pans, like traditional cast iron or stainless steel.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
10 Sep. 2025
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Each footstep sent up clouds of dust and ash, coating everything, including my mouth and teeth, in fine grit, blackening my snot and saliva.—
River Selby
August 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In November 2024, an American citizen was among six tourists who died in Laos, where alcohol tainted with methanol was blamed for poisoning them.—
Jay Ganglani,
NBC news,
5 Nov. 2025
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What about him specifically bothers you especially in terms of poisoning the youth?—
Jayson Buford,
Rolling Stone,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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To be put in this category is discrediting.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
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Already, Cuba’s top diplomats have been sharing propaganda content discrediting Machado as a warmonger.—
Nora Gamez Torres,
Miami Herald,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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By the time it was all set up, the whole cold, disintegrating place was threaded with lights and lines, flickering everywhere, black and red, the sheer quantity somehow terrifying and embracing at once.—
Blair Braverman,
Outside,
28 Oct. 2025
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This difference sounds small, but preventing a few tenths of a degree of warming could keep polar ice caps from completely disintegrating, coral reefs from collapsing and other tipping points from triggering.—
Syris Valentine,
Scientific American,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fouling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fouling. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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