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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
a foul taste that made us gag
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in stinking
having an unpleasant smell
the foul fumes from the paper mill
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in filthy
not clean
I wouldn't play in the foul rainwater that's collected in the feeding trough
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of foul
Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2025
If your dirty or foul clothes simply can’t wait, try these options for washing on the go.
—Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Aug. 2025
Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 9 Aug. 2025
Soto, being evaluated daily, departed the game in the fourth inning after fouling a pitch off the top of his back foot.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for foul
Adjective
The Rangers had two runners on with one out in the third inning when Texas’ Ezequiel Duran popped up a pitch on the foul side of the third-base line.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2025
If your dirty or foul clothes simply can’t wait, try these options for washing on the go.
—Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
But Teoscar Hernandez swung and missed at two fastballs down the middle, fouled off one slider then chased another one into the dirt of the left-hand batter’s box.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 9 Aug. 2025
Soto, being evaluated daily, departed the game in the fourth inning after fouling a pitch off the top of his back foot.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for foul
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foul
Adjective
-
Sheckler and Kells have used the parallels in their turbulent journeys in the spotlight to lean on one another, making their bond stronger over the years.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
14 Aug. 2025
-
The two were married in 2012, and in the 13 years that followed, Krein was spotted from time to time with the powerful political family as his father-in-law navigated a presidential campaign and turbulent term in the White House.—
Kyler Alvord,
People.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
That blame might be unfair; Trump’s tariffs and a national immigration crackdown, which are surely affecting demand and hiring, aren’t Powell’s doing.—
Jon Hilsenrath,
semafor.com,
21 Aug. 2025
-
Minnesota is seeking a declaration that TikTok’s practices are deceptive, unfair or unconscionable under state law, a permanent injunction against those practices, and up to $25,000 for each instance in which a Minnesota child has accessed TikTok.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
One of the guests makes a disgusting joke involving the boat and lubricant.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
26 Aug. 2025
-
Leftovers on a plate are more disgusting than leftovers in a pot, and leftovers on someone else’s plate more disgusting still.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Part of that obscene number is the Never Say Die Ladies Turf Sprint.—
Danny Brewer,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
-
Brooklyn prosecutors charged him with misdemeanor assault, as well as menacing, reckless endangerment, possession of obscene material, interference with a professional sporting event, weapons possession and other charges, officials said.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
21 Aug. 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
-
Trump has repeatedly described some of the nation's largest cities, run by Democrats, with Black mayors and majority-minority populations, as dangerous and filthy.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
-
While the exterior appears to be filthy, images from inside appear to show a white substance covering the steering wheel, dashboard, center console and other parts of the interior.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
As more success suddenly comes his way, McKinstry has remained the same, friendly and chuckling at his locker, dirtying his jersey and pestering opponents on the field.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
-
Some were prosthetic buttocks, but others were people’s own buttocks, but in various states, like dirtied down and with partial covering.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
It’s only been a couple of years since AI songs first started polluting the web, but audio generators like Suno and Udio have improved in subtle yet meaningful ways, simulating human imperfections and quirks more effectively.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
14 Aug. 2025
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The old East German factories, which once dumped chemicals into the river, stopped polluting almost overnight.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foul. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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