Synonyms of fouls

fouls

verb

present tense third-person singular of foul

1

as in stains

to make dirty

the mechanic fouled the bath towels with axle grease

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stains
• dirties
• messes
• blackens
• smudges
• befouls
• mucks
• soils
• sullies
• daubs
• besmirches
• mires
• distains
• muddies
• contaminates
• pollutes
• smirches
• gaums
• grimes
• taints
• begrimes
• bemires
• disorders
• defiles
• discolors
• draggles
• disarranges
• muddles
• jumbles
• dishevels
• confuses
• disarrays
• crocks
• collies

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cleans
• cleanses
• purges
• purifies
• sweeps
• brushes
• wipes
• washes
• disinfects
• dusts
• scrubs
• decontaminates
• mops
• sanitizes
• rinses
• launders
• deodorizes
• renews
• scours
• straightens (up)
• brightens
• spruces (up)
• freshens
• dry-cleans
• tidies (up)

2

as in pollutes

to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable

industrial pollution fouling the water supply

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pollutes
• poisons
• contaminates
• taints
• befouls
• defiles
• infects
• dirties
• fouls up
• stains
• smudges
• soils
• sullies
• besmirches
• mires
• dilutes
• adulterates
• corrupts
• waters down
• blackens
• rots
• muddies
• grimes
• spoils
• doctors
• smirches
• begrimes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• purifies
• cleans
• purges
• filters
• clears
• cleanses
• clarifies
• decontaminates
• distills
• sterilizes
• disinfects
• sanitizes

3

as in humiliates

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

• humiliates
• discredits
• insults
• disgraces
• shames
• embarrasses
• degrades
• humbles
• dishonors
• rattles
• debases
• confuses
• abases
• demeans
• takes down
• chastens
• lowers
• cheapens
• criticizes
• sinks
• diminishes
• minimizes
• smirches
• detracts
• ridicules
• flusters
• discountenances
• mortifies
• affronts
• libels
• slanders
• disconcerts
• discounts
• discomfits
• belittles
• confounds
• disparages
• decries
• depreciates
• condemns
• writes off
• fazes
• defiles
• maligns
• abashes
• censures
• defames
• castigates
• cries down
• nonpluses
• execrates
• puts down
• denounces
• bad-mouths
• damns
• reprehends
• reprobates

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cheers
• compliments
• cites
• aggrandizes
• exalts
• elevates
• honors
• praises
• canonizes
• deifies
• commends
• celebrates
• highlights
• applauds
• recognizes
• salutes
• lauds
• hails
• acknowledges
• boasts
• touts
• congratulates
• decorates
• acclaims
• advances
• eulogizes
• extols
• fetes
• plays up
• spotlights
• lifts
• dignifies
• magnifies
• upgrades
• promotes
• ennobles
• enthrones
• raises
• glorifies
• boosts
• uplifts
• enshrines
• idealizes
• romanticizes
• enskies

4

as in decomposes

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

• decomposes
• decays
• disintegrates
• rots
• corrupts
• molds
• spoils
• perishes
• breaks down
• falls apart
• festers
• deteriorates
• contaminates
• turns
• descends
• putrefies
• goes to seed
• pollutes
• sours
• molders
• crumbles
• ferments
• taints
• defiles
• rusts
• degenerates
• mortifies
• turns off
• curdles
• sinks
• declines
• addles
• withers
• dilapidates

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ages
• grows
• develops
• ripens
• matures
• restores
• refreshes
• purifies
• renews
• cleanses
• improves
• betters
• integrates
• assembles
• composes
• ameliorates
• meliorates

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fouls

Getty ImagesEnzo Fernandez of Argentina fouls Pau Cubarsi of Spain, resulting in a red card during the World Cup final match at New York New Jersey Stadium. — NBC news, 19 July 2026

Belgium defender Nathan Ngoy fouls Iran forward Mehdi Taremi. — Eric Thayer, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026

There have been multiple instances in which fouls against Clark have been upgraded after the fact. — James Boyd, New York Times, 25 June 2026

Oklahoma City hardly fouls – averaging just 19 fouls against and drawing 20-plus fouls per game – despite playing intense defense. — Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 3 May 2026

Volatile organic compounds and carbon monoxide are the key ingredients in ground-level ozone pollution, which combine on hot days to create a smog that fouls the air. — Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 9 Apr. 2026

This year’s team is an exceptional group of talented players, but their defense fouls too much, Smith dribbles too much and our shooting percentage often tanks. — Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 17 Feb. 2026

Jordan Pope fouls Georgia's Jeremiah Wilkinson on a 3-point shot right in front of Texas coach Sean Miller. — Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 24 Jan. 2026