1
as in staining
to make dirty
the mechanic fouled the bath towels with axle grease
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fouling
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
One way the Lobos got back in the game was fouling less.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026
Saka, shocked by this decision, retaliated by deliberately fouling Cucurella and was booked.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 14 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
Tennessee plays great defense without fouling, so KU will need to ride the hot hands of Bidunga and Tiller — both of whom have played well in this tournament by scoring in the post.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 26 Nov. 2025
Without Gordon, the focus also shifts toward figuring out how to guard star forwards without fouling.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 26 Nov. 2025
Texas is starting to play sloppy defense and fouling Louisiana which gets them to the free throw line.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 10 Nov. 2025
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
One way the Lobos got back in the game was fouling less.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026
Saka, shocked by this decision, retaliated by deliberately fouling Cucurella and was booked.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 14 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
Tennessee plays great defense without fouling, so KU will need to ride the hot hands of Bidunga and Tiller — both of whom have played well in this tournament by scoring in the post.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 26 Nov. 2025
Without Gordon, the focus also shifts toward figuring out how to guard star forwards without fouling.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 26 Nov. 2025
Texas is starting to play sloppy defense and fouling Louisiana which gets them to the free throw line.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fouling
Verb
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Holevich adds that cleaning these surfaces promptly will help prevent long-term staining and lingering odors.—
Kate Van Pelt,
The Spruce,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Foods like tomato sauce and chocolate can cause staining if they aren't wiped up right away.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Florida’s approach for policing water contamination amounts to an honor system that protects polluting industries — including agriculture and development, whose representatives lobby heavily in Tallahassee, the Times found.—
Bethany Barnes,
Miami Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
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Chemical rockets put out huge plumes of polluting exhaust, and for a massive machine like the SpaceX Starship, with 33 first-stage engines, that can add up—especially with hundreds of launches planned.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
7 Jan. 2026
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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In desert regions, natural mummification is common due to the dry conditions where fungi and bacteria can’t thrive on a decomposing corpse.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
15 Jan. 2026
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In town, the painter also notes the reek of decomposing bodies, of garbage, of blood streaming out of the butcher shop.—
Amir Ahmadi Arian,
The Dial,
15 Jan. 2026
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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Attorneys for a Utah children's book author accused of poisoning her husband to death are accusing members of the prosecution team of witness intimidation, just weeks before jury selection is set to begin in her high-profile murder trial.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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In the novel, the story instead concludes aboard the Princess Andromeda cruise ship, where Luke is tricked into confessing to poisoning Thalia’s tree, clearing Chiron’s name.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 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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As in a seventeenth-century poem by John Donne, George Herbert, or Andrew Marvell, the fraught human body is a microcosm, a mirror to the larger disintegrating world spirit.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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When Syrian dictator Bashar Assad’s army was disintegrating in the face of a rapid advance by Syrian opposition forces under the command of Ahmad al-Sharaa, all the Russians were willing to do was launch a few symbolic airstrikes and help organize Assad’s getaway to a life in exile.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fouling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fouling. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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