How to Use foul in a Sentence

foul

1 of 4 adjective
  • The medicine left a foul taste in my mouth.
  • The weather has been foul all week.
  • Once again, no foul call was made.
    — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026
  • Stars don’t get foul calls on those makes.
    — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Brown made a pair of foul shots to seal it.
    — ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
  • And didn't get a foul call to show for it.
    — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
  • There should have been 200 foul calls.
    — Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
  • All turned back from fear or foul weather.
    — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 2 June 2026
  • Spencer then made both of his foul shots to put it out of reach.
    — CBS News, 6 Dec. 2025
  • Lee forces a foul call after a drive to the rim.
    — American-Statesman Staff, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Yes, forty-three foul shots in one 48-minute game.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Auburn made all ten of its foul shots in the fourth quarter.
    — Arkansas Online, 16 Jan. 2026
  • The Spurs missed eight of their 33 foul shots.
    — Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 9 May 2026
  • Your body will feel better, and your urine won’t smell so foul.
    — Women's Health, 28 Apr. 2023
  • The ankel didn't put him on the bench, but rather foul trouble.
    — Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, 29 Dec. 2022
  • The ball hit off the left-field foul pole for a solo home run.
    — Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
  • Mild scurvy caused bleeding gums, tooth loss and foul-smelling breath.
    — Katherine Ott, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
  • And when locked up for days in a foul jail, there wasn’t much else to do but sing.
    — David W. Stowe, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2026
  • From then on, the final frame was a slow burn of foul calls and free throws.
    — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 14 Jan. 2026
  • Smith then lined the two-run homer just inside the foul pole in left field.
    — CBS News, 6 June 2026
  • To me, a foul is a foul, period!
    — Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
  • Both foul poles are the deepest in baseball.
    — Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
  • The ball bounced off a staircase just inside the foul pole.
    — CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
  • These easy at-home tricks might get the smell out of your shoes and prevent foul odors.
    — Dwyer Frame, Health, 31 Oct. 2023
  • And Texas has just two foul shots, a season-low for a half.
    — Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Gottlieb believed there should have been a foul call.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Common sense said the wind should’ve sent that shot to the wrong side of the foul pole.
    — Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
  • There was no harm, no foul, however.
    — Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
  • If so, your kitchen garbage could be the culprit behind the foul smell.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 19 June 2026
  • If so, your kitchen garbage could be the culprit behind the foul smell.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2025

foul

2 of 4 noun
  • He hit several fouls in a row.
  • Texas has six turnovers and five fouls.
    — Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 28 Jan. 2026
  • First of all, that looks like a foul.
    — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026
  • That was the first of four straight fouls.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
  • Davis drew a foul and made both free throws.
    — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025
  • The play was deemed to be a common foul.
    — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2026
  • Melbourne was called for a foul on the play.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
  • Woolfolk drew nine fouls in the game.
    — ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
  • That should’ve been a flagrant foul.
    — Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Oden got a fourth foul late in the first overtime.
    — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Oden had no fouls in the first half, then three in the second half.
    — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
  • And if the ref don’t call a foul and you get hurt, that’s your problem.
    — Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2023
  • In total, there were 35 fouls called.
    — ABC News, 28 Feb. 2026
  • To me, a foul is a foul, period!
    — Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
  • Burns also blocked a shot and picked up a single foul.
    — Joseph Pastilha, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026
  • And the next foul’s a little bit harder.
    — Thomas Lake, AJC.com, 4 June 2026
  • There was not like this belief that these fouls were not legit.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Those are two pretty good spots for a defense with fouls to give.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2026
  • That time, a very disputable foul denied him.
    — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Two more fouls wrapped around a ball, which sailed high and outside, had the count full.
    — Julian McWilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023
  • His big man suddenly has one foul.
    — Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026
  • Towns will complain about fouls, but not about shot attempts.
    — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026
  • Thanks to a loose ball foul, the Mystics took a one-point lead.
    — Ian Miller, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026
  • Pritchard drove and drew fouls on back-to-back possessions.
    — Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Texas has just four total fouls, and no Horn has more than one foul.
    — Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 25 Feb. 2026
  • At this point, Miller is at his wit's end about the Longhorn fouls.
    — Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Charlotte’s Ball wasn’t even called for a foul on the play, too.
    — Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Spilling kills ocean wildlife, fouls beaches and disrupts coastal economies.
    — Kristen Monsell, Sun Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Ausar, trying not to pick up his fifth foul, put his hands behind his back.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Deme had two fouls at the end of the first quarter and did not play most of the first half.
    — Jack Gillespie, Daily News, 24 Jan. 2026

foul

3 of 4 verb
  • He was fouled as he attempted the shot.
  • She fouled on her first long jump attempt.
  • He kept fouling pitches into the stands.
  • At that point, the Bucks were forced to foul.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Martínez fouled off the right pitches.
    — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 1 May 2026
  • Brunson lunged for the loose ball and got fouled.
    — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 12 June 2026
  • Klavzar hit a 3 off the inbounds play and got fouled.
    — Mark Long, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Harper hacked at a 3-0 pitch and fouled it.
    — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
  • All Boozer had to do was hold the ball and get fouled?
    — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Martinez fouled Skubal's first pitch off his left foot.
    — CBS News, 13 June 2026
  • So not trying to foul those balls off and put them forward.
    — Bill Plunkett, Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Andy Pages fouled the ball off and Ohtani went back to first.
    — Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 12 June 2026
  • With time in the game winding down, the Heat were forced to foul.
    — Emmett Hall, Sun Sentinel, 30 Aug. 2022
  • Just hold it and wait to be fouled, and the shot never happens.
    — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
  • What has changed, the coach said, is his ability to get fouled.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Lowe left the game after fouling a ball off his right knee in the ninth.
    — CBS News, 6 June 2026
  • Cole, again, went up and in with his fastball and Reyes fouled it off.
    — Julian McWilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023
  • One way the Lobos got back in the game was fouling less.
    — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026
  • He was hurt while fouling off a pitch on Thursday night.
    — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Balls down the middle, Tigers hitters took or fouled off.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Bidunga of late has been able to block a lot of shots without fouling.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2026
  • James proposes that a batter can foul off one pitch with two strikes.
    — Laura Blasey, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2022
  • There are few girls who can stop her inside without fouling.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Their downfall has been fouling.
    — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
  • But the Bonnies had to foul Holmes, who made two more free throws.
    — Mitch Stacy, USA TODAY, 3 Feb. 2024
  • The Celts were forced to foul and never got closer than two points.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Mark blocked a three-point attempt by Taylor, who then fouled him.
    — Bob Holt, arkansasonline.com, 17 Jan. 2024
  • There was a lot of hand-checking the whole game, a lot of fouling going on.
    — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Dec. 2023
  • Chinyelu got the rebound, hit a layup, got fouled again and added the seventh point from the stripe.
    — Mark Long, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Penn streaks up the court and sinks both free throws after Lee fouls the shooter.
    — Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 30 Nov. 2025

foul

4 of 4 adverb
  • No foul was called on the play.
    — Mason Leib, ABC News, 25 June 2026
  • No foul was called on the play.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
  • There was no foul called on the play.
    — The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Flagg missed, and no foul was called.
    — Christian Clark, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
  • Flagg missed, and no foul was called.
    — Christian Clark, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
  • Though this came in the first half, no foul was called.
    — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026
  • Is the foul-baiting killing it?
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
  • His players can't help but foul.
    — Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Merrill hit a ball foul down the first-base side.
    — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
  • No foul was called, and the Mavs went on to lose by four points.
    — Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 1 Feb. 2026
  • The foul gave the Magic a free throw and the ball.
    — Jay King, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
  • No one wants to open the fridge only to be met with a foul-smelling odor.
    — Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
  • No foul was called on the play by officials.
    — Doug Feinberg, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026
  • Then this year brought new charges, and the defense is crying foul.
    — Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 15 Sep. 2021
  • Fans groaned as a deep fly ball pulled just foul into the outfield seats.
    — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Pham foul-tipped both and had some choice words with himself on the way back to the dugout.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
  • No foul was called at the time, and Clark left the game due to injury.
    — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026
  • No foul was called at the time, and Clark left the game due to injury.
    — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2026
  • However, the ball was ruled foul.
    — Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Collins was called for a flagrant 2 foul and ejected from the game.
    — David Thompson, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2022
  • No foul was called on the play, but the league could review it for a flagrant foul.
    — ABC News, 24 June 2026
  • But Diouf’s foul turned the game in Brentford’s favour.
    — Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 9 May 2026
  • The sink in our primary bathroom has a foul-smelling odor to it.
    — Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 4 Nov. 2022
  • The Chalobah foul didn't look nearly as bad as the Sanchez one.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
  • It was ruled a flagrant foul after a review.
    — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Cardwell picked up his fourth foul three minutes later.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Cardwell picked up his fourth foul three minutes later.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • That foul was not upgraded to a flagrant.
    — CBS News, 25 June 2026
  • Were those officials being paid per foul called?
    — Lindsay Schnell, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
  • The ball seemed to be on its way foul before Moncada touched it.
    — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 19 May 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'foul.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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