Synonyms of fouling

fouling

verb

present participle of foul

1

as in staining

to make dirty

the mechanic fouled the bath towels with axle grease

Synonyms & Similar Words

• staining
• blackening
• dirtying
• soiling
• messing
• mucking
• sullying
• smudging
• befouling
• muddying
• besmirching
• polluting
• contaminating
• daubing
• griming
• miring
• distaining
• smirching
• gauming
• begriming
• bemiring
• tainting
• discoloring
• defiling
• disordering
• disarranging
• muddling
• draggling
• disheveling
• jumbling
• disarraying
• confusing
• crocking
• collying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cleaning
• cleansing
• purging
• purifying
• decontaminating
• wiping
• brushing
• sweeping
• washing
• disinfecting
• scrubbing
• dusting
• rinsing
• sanitizing
• scouring
• mopping
• laundering
• renewing
• freshening
• brightening
• straightening (up)
• dry-cleaning
• tidying (up)
• deodorizing
• sprucing (up)

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

• polluting
• poisoning
• contaminating
• tainting
• befouling
• defiling
• infecting
• soiling
• dirtying
• staining
• sullying
• blackening
• smudging
• rotting
• diluting
• besmirching
• corrupting
• spoiling
• muddying
• adulterating
• fouling up
• miring
• griming
• watering down
• smirching
• doctoring
• begriming

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cleaning
• purifying
• clearing
• cleansing
• clarifying
• purging
• filtering
• distilling
• decontaminating
• sterilizing
• disinfecting
• sanitizing

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

• humiliating
• discrediting
• degrading
• embarrassing
• shaming
• disgracing
• rattling
• dishonoring
• insulting
• debasing
• lowering
• humbling
• confusing
• cheapening
• sinking
• demeaning
• abasing
• taking down
• criticizing
• diminishing
• minimizing
• chastening
• smirching
• disconcerting
• ridiculing
• detracting
• discounting
• decrying
• mortifying
• disparaging
• discountenancing
• confounding
• flustering
• defiling
• maligning
• belittling
• condemning
• depreciating
• libeling
• slandering
• defaming
• discomfiting
• castigating
• writing off
• fazing
• affronting
• nonplussing
• denouncing
• abashing
• crying down
• bad-mouthing
• censuring
• putting down
• damning
• execrating
• reprobating
• reprehending

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• elevating
• exalting
• citing
• praising
• honoring
• decorating
• recognizing
• celebrating
• cheering
• aggrandizing
• deifying
• applauding
• canonizing
• boasting
• complimenting
• acknowledging
• saluting
• commending
• extolling
• congratulating
• lauding
• hailing
• eulogizing
• touting
• highlighting
• acclaiming
• advancing
• promoting
• lifting
• upgrading
• feting
• raising
• spotlighting
• playing up
• magnifying
• glorifying
• boosting
• enshrining
• dignifying
• ennobling
• uplifting
• enthroning
• romanticizing
• idealizing
• enskying

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

• decomposing
• disintegrating
• rotting
• decaying
• spoiling
• corrupting
• molding
• festering
• perishing
• deteriorating
• putrefying
• falling apart
• polluting
• moldering
• descending
• crumbling
• contaminating
• turning
• rusting
• breaking down
• souring
• going to seed
• defiling
• fermenting
• tainting
• curdling
• degenerating
• sinking
• mortifying
• declining
• turning off
• addling
• withering
• dilapidating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• growing
• aging
• developing
• maturing
• ripening
• restoring
• cleansing
• renewing
• purifying
• improving
• integrating
• assembling
• composing
• refreshing
• ameliorating
• bettering
• meliorating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fouling

Shohei Ohtani reacts after fouling a ball off his foot during the seventh against the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium on September 7, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026

Orioles' shortstop Gunnar Henderson was pulled from the game in the eighth after fouling a ball off his shin. — ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026

Large-scale ocean deployment would introduce challenges involving currents, waves, fouling by marine organisms, material durability, recovery of the adsorbent, and processing costs. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026

Báez worked a full count in the fourth inning, fouling off a first-pitch changeup and taking another two pitches later for a ball. — Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026

And Cronenworth, fouling off pitches against lefty Aaron Ashby, did well to stave off a strikeout before hitting a soft bounder to first baseman Jake Bauers. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026

Injury updates Miguel Rojas (ankle) was available off the bench despite exiting Saturday’s game after fouling a ball off his foot. — Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026

Congressional conservatives even called for the federal government to investigate the WNBA for civil-rights violations because of players fouling her. — Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 25 July 2026

But, experts say, the projects popping up in Miami-Dade are unlike those that grab headlines for fouling drinking water and driving up power bills — for now. — Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026