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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in stinking
having an unpleasant smell
the foul fumes from the paper mill
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in filthy
not clean
I wouldn't play in the foul rainwater that's collected in the feeding trough
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
1
as in grossness
the quality or state of being obscene
the foulness of your language means that your post won't get on the Web site's bulletin board
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dustiness
the state or quality of being dirty
she couldn't believe the foulness of her daughter's room, and ordered her to clean it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of foul
Miami Herald, 28 May 2025
Left fielder Emilie Marquez made a running catch in foul territory.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2025
Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 24 May 2025
Stott fouled off five full-count pitches, all 95.3-95.8 mph fastballs.
—David O'Brien, New York Times, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for foul
Adjective
Tatis got a run back right away, lining his fourth leadoff homer of the year and 13th homer overall inside the right field foul pole.
—Miami Herald, 28 May 2025
Left fielder Emilie Marquez made a running catch in foul territory.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2025
Verb
But Brunson fouled Aaron Nesmith on the ensuing inbound, and Nesmith made both free throws.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 24 May 2025
Stott fouled off five full-count pitches, all 95.3-95.8 mph fastballs.
—David O'Brien, New York Times, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for foul
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foul
Adjective
-
President Donald Trump’s turbulent tariff policy is projected to cause a sharper slowdown in economic growth in the United States and around the world than previously expected, the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) found in a Tuesday report.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
3 June 2025
-
This turbulent phase will pass, leading to more peaceful times ahead.—
Essence,
Essence,
2 June 2025
Adjective
-
Some widely circulated by partisan sources were certainly unfair to Biden.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
30 May 2025
-
However, Samantha's reaction to learning that Smith Jerrod (Jason Lewis) is sober is unfair and doesn’t age well.—
Melissa Locker,
Time,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
Conrad wraps the conversation by being incredibly disgusting about Bella’s nether regions.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
1 June 2025
-
For the next 200 years, snails only appeared in Parisian cookbooks alongside an apology for including such a disgusting ingredient.—
Garritt C. Van Dyk,
Smithsonian Magazine,
29 May 2025
Adjective
-
Venis’s obscene wealth justifies an unbridled narcissism that reflects our worst fears of tech moguls.—
Andrew Wallenstein,
Variety,
28 May 2025
-
In December 2014, a jury convicted Magnotta of first-degree murder, committing an indignity to a human body, publishing obscene material and mailing obscene and indecent material.—
Jessica Sager,
People.com,
25 May 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
-
The law specifically spells out heating problems, pest infestations and filthy conditions as among the issues that could require a court’s intervention.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
30 May 2025
-
Detectives have criminally charged the owner of nearly 50 Belgian Malinois dogs that were found trapped together in a cramped, filthy Queens apartment, police said Wednesday.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
14 May 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
-
These efforts play a valuable role in addressing the plastic already polluting our oceans.—
Rob Kaplan,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
-
Runoff from roads, factories, and dumping grounds can also pollute water sources used for crops.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foul. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share