Synonyms of foul play

foul play

noun

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

• murder
• homicide
• blood
• killing
• slaying
• massacre
• execution
• rubout
• slaughter
• assassination
• mercy killing
• manslaughter
• destruction
• carnage
• bloodshed
• chance-medley
• decimation
• butchery
• hit
• euthanasia
• regicide
• parricide
• fratricide
• matricide
• filicide
• uxoricide
• patricide

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

• violence
• injury
• assault
• brutality
• force
• attack
• terror
• compulsion
• pressure
• battery
• damage
• coercion
• riot
• harm
• impairment
• outrage
• hurt
• constraint
• threat
• savagery
• pommelling
• detriment
• barbarity
• duress
• revolt
• beating
• mutilation
• whipping
• crippling
• mayhem
• fury
• shock
• thrashing
• smashing
• rage
• whaling
• pommeling
• bashing
• turbulence
• flogging
• paddling
• mauling
• clubbing
• hammering
• thumping
• maiming
• pummeling
• rupture
• pounding
• outbreak
• upheaval
• licking
• drubbing
• rampage
• onslaught
• bullying
• buffeting
• battering
• batting
• frenzy
• belting
• pummelling
• cudgelling
• pelting
• lacing
• paroxysm
• bulldozing
• tumult
• cudgeling
• uproar
• bludgeoning
• walloping
• storm
• tromping
• socking
• browbeating
• hectoring
• strong-arming

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nonviolence
• pacifism
• pacificism

Examples of foul play in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In January, the Los Angeles Police Department closed an investigation into Perry’s death, having launched a preliminary investigation despite not having any suspicion of foul play. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2024

There were no signs of a struggle or foul play, according to the sheriff's office. —Tanya Wildt, Detroit Free Press, 10 Aug. 2024

At the time, authorities said there was no indication of foul play. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 3 Oct. 2024

The investigation was ongoing, though officials said there were no signs of foul play as of Wednesday morning. —Lauren De Young, The Arizona Republic, 2 Oct. 2024