befoul

verb

be·​foul bi-ˈfau̇(-ə)l How to pronounce befoul (audio)
bē-
befouled; befouling; befouls

transitive verb

1
: to make foul (as with dirt or waste)
2
: sully, soil, besmirch
scandal befouled his reputation

Examples of befoul in a Sentence

pollutants that befoul the air and water unsightly mud and slush befouls the family car every winter
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Capitalism is degrading us, killing us and befouling our world. Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 8 June 2023 At a 2019 commencement address, Mr. Adams told a story about intimidating a neighbor whose dog was befouling his yard. Emma G. Fitzsimmons, New York Times, 1 June 2023 This roman à clef series begins with the patriarch of the Roy clan, Logan (Brian Cox), urinating on a carpet (evoking The Big Lebowski, befouling us). Armond White, National Review, 5 Apr. 2023 Human attention is presented as an endangered public resource, befouled by the attention economy, tech companies, virtual workplaces, Slack notifications. Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2023 See all Example Sentences for befoul 

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of befoul was in the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near befoul

Cite this Entry

“Befoul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/befoul. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

befoul

verb
be·​foul bi-ˈfau̇(ə)l How to pronounce befoul (audio)
: to make dirty : soil
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