1
as in murder
the intentional and unlawful taking of another person's life
the coroner ruled that there was no evidence of foul play
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in violence
the use of brute strength to cause harm to a person or property
the suspect has a long history of foul play, and was once convicted on assault and battery charges
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of foul play
There were no signs of trauma, and foul play was not suspected, according to police.
—
Julie Mendes, AZCentral.com, 23 Mar. 2026
All firearms were legally possessed, no foul play is suspected, and the shooting appears accidental, police said.
—Doug Myers, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
With the cause and manner of death already determined, and no foul play suspected, the only aspects of the case left unresolved – at least in the eyes of the Justice Department – was whether the actions of any of the officers contributed to Epstein’s suicide.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
Many alleged that Aujay was the victim of foul play.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foul play
Julie Mendes, AZCentral.com, 23 Mar. 2026
All firearms were legally possessed, no foul play is suspected, and the shooting appears accidental, police said.
—Doug Myers, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
With the cause and manner of death already determined, and no foul play suspected, the only aspects of the case left unresolved – at least in the eyes of the Justice Department – was whether the actions of any of the officers contributed to Epstein’s suicide.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
Many alleged that Aujay was the victim of foul play.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foul play
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foul play
Noun
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Tucker's defense attorney argued she was intoxicated during the crime, but she was found guilty of capital murder.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Bush was charged with murder, home invasion and criminal possession of a firearm.—
Naveen Dhaliwal,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
After an accidental explosion in a West Village bomb factory killed three Weathermen, those who survived, shaken by their friends’ deaths, swore off deadly violence.—
Zayd Ayers Dohrn,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
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Fugazi said, referencing her city’s struggle with gangs and violence.—
Connor Letourneau,
San Francisco Chronicle,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The driver in the Philadelphia crash was later charged with DUI homicide.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
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The medical examiner determined Moore’s cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death to be homicide.—
Kathryn Kovalenko,
Twin Cities,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The guys have put in blood, sweat and tears to develop a top-four defense two weeks ago.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
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Tests done after the trial, when the men were appealing their convictions, showed the stains were not blood.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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On Monday, the Contra Costa DA's Office said in a press release that Howard Wang now faces an additional murder charge for the June 2024 killing of 41-year-old Chengli Li in Los Angeles County.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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Three unsolved homicides — the April, 3, 2022 killings of 22-year-old Brandon Alexander Cheese and 20-year-old Kieran Carlson in San Francisco — as well as the June 2022 killing of Leandre Hubbard in North Richmond, were attributed to this feud.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foul play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foul%20play. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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