1
as in stains
to make dirty
the mechanic fouled the bath towels with axle grease
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of fouls
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fouls
Verb
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When that protective finish gets damaged, the toilet actually stains easier and is harder to keep clean over time.
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What Sacks doesn’t get is that by financing and diplomatically supporting Israel, our country makes the crimes of the Israeli government possible, which stains America’s reputation in the world and drains our Treasury.
Verb
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Unless the energy powering data centers comes from clean energy sources, such as solar, wind or geothermal, generating that electricity also pollutes the air.
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Meanwhile, the unceasing churn of clothing, footwear and accessories depletes soils, poisons the water, pollutes the air, drives deforestation, accelerates biodiversity loss and generates runaway planet-warming emissions that undermine brands’ lofty environmental ambitions.
Verb
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Diomande just humiliates fullbacks.
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Incompetent leadership humiliates us on the global stage.
Verb
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The research team enabled a room-temperature, four-electron chemical reaction path that forms and decomposes lithium oxide, which expands available energy storage.
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Organic material trapped in reservoirs accumulates and decomposes over time, releasing methane — a potent greenhouse gas that significantly contributes to global warming, Fernández-Garrido told CNN.
Verb
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The adventurous actress dirties up her frock and face to play the village pariah, who reeks of fish and would be no man’s idea of a suitable wife, except perhaps the one-eyed bum who sleeps in the town square.
Verb
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In the film, Cady also poisons the family dog, Benjamin.
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The bait poisons the entire colony, including the queen, so no new ants can be produced.
Verb
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The praiseworthyness of having both sides of the debate evaporates when the host actively discredits the expert and reflexively enhances the legitimacy of the conspiracy theorist.
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Yet despite its popularity, research discredits this long-standing belief.
Verb
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Europe will not be able to defend itself militarily if democracy decays internally.
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In theory, beryllium-8 normally decays into two helium-4 nuclei.
Cite this Entry
“Fouls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fouls. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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