foul 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfau̇(-ə)l How to pronounce foul (audio)
Definition of foulnext
1
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment a foul taste that made us gag

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2
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

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3
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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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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5
as in stinking
having an unpleasant smell the foul fumes from the paper mill

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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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foul

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to dirty
to make dirty the mechanic fouled the bath towels with axle grease

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2
as in to pollute
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable industrial pollution fouling the water supply

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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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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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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective foul differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of foul are dirty, filthy, nasty, and squalid. While all these words mean "conspicuously unclean or impure," foul implies extreme offensiveness and an accumulation of what is rotten or stinking; it can also describe, for example, loathsome behavior.

a foul-smelling open sewer
a foul story of lust and greed

When can dirty be used instead of foul?

Although the words dirty and foul have much in common, dirty emphasizes the presence of dirt more than an emotional reaction to it or, figuratively, stresses meanness or despicableness.

a dirty littered street
don't ask me to do your dirty work

When could filthy be used to replace foul?

The meanings of filthy and foul largely overlap; however, filthy carries a strong suggestion of offensiveness and typically of gradually accumulated dirt that begrimes and besmears. Figuratively, it can also describe disgusting obscenity.

a stained greasy floor, utterly filthy
filthy street language

How is nasty related to other words for foul?

Nasty applies to what is actually foul or is repugnant to one expecting freshness, cleanliness, or sweetness; in practice, however, nasty is often weakened to the point of being no more than a synonym of unpleasant or disagreeable. When used figuratively, nasty implies a peculiarly offensive unpleasantness.

it's a nasty job to clean up after a sick cat
had a nasty fall
his answer gave her a nasty shock
a stand-up comedian known for nasty humor

When would squalid be a good substitute for foul?

In some situations, the words squalid and foul are roughly equivalent. However, squalid adds to the idea of dirtiness and filth that of slovenly neglect. Distinctively, its figurative use implies sordidness as well as baseness and dirtiness.

squalid slums
engaged in a series of squalid affairs

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of foul
Adjective
The foul weather in the Great Plains comes after the region was hit by severe thunderstorms and damaging winds on Wednesday. —Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 4 June 2026 The following inning, left fielder Casey Schmitt navigated the wall in foul territory to flag down an inning-ending fly out, giving Webb five perfect frames. —Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 4 June 2026
Verb
Lowe left the game after fouling a ball off his right knee in the ninth. —CBS News, 6 June 2026 Two batters later, Michael Massey worked a lengthy at-bat, fouling off several offerings. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for foul
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foul
  1. disgusting
  2. turbulent
  3. unfair
  4. obscene
  5. stinking
  6. filthy
  7. dirty
  8. pollute
Adjective
  • The president announced the work in April during an unrelated Oval Office appearance, saying he was inspired by complaints from a friend visiting from Germany who called the pool dark and disgusting.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
  • Seeing a game get shipped off to a foreign land for no good reason is even more disgusting.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
Definition of disgusting
Adjective
  • Getty Images The Philadelphia Phillies have spent the last several weeks playing like a club determined to erase the disappointment of a turbulent first half.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
  • As the investigation progresses in this four-part docuseries, Stephen reveals the turbulent family dynamics that shaped his childhood, including his father Ron — a violent Vietnam War vet grappling with PTSD — and his mother, Margie, who divorced Ron in the '90s.
    — James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026
Definition of turbulent
Adjective
  • Legal and privacy concerns The lawsuit accuses Amazon of violating the Federal Trade Commission Act, which prohibits deceptive and unfair business practices.
    — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 4 June 2026
  • There were those dumb America's Care Packages that bestowed special powers to popular players to give them unfair advantages.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026
Definition of unfair
Adjective
  • It was seized by the post office (as Rosset had expected) and duly declared obscene by the postmaster of the city of New York, a man named Robert Christenberry.
    — Louis Menand, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
  • Who says a man can’t appreciate the gleaming, obscene form of an Aston Martin supercar or the growl of its overpriced engine?
    — Alex James Kane, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Definition of obscene
Adjective
  • America’s political landscape has become a stinking mess.
    — Mary Ellen Klas, Boston Herald, 1 June 2026
  • America’s political landscape has become a stinking mess.
    — Mary Ellen Klas, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
Definition of stinking
Adjective
  • The president had complained about filthy water and a leaking foundation, according to previous USA TODAY reporting.
    — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 3 June 2026
  • And some of the best evidence of the lovebugs’ comeback came last week at the Turkey Lake Service Plaza on Florida’s Turnpike, where filthy, splattered cars and trucks queued up before the plaza’s automatic windshield washer.
    — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026
Definition of filthy
Verb
  • But as filming continued, Pidgeon appeared to dirty her butter blond with caramel and chocolate shades similar to Bessette-Kennedy’s, thanks to stylist Kari Hill.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 25 Feb. 2026
  • With the help of your Instant Pot, spaghetti and meatballs come together in under an hour without dirtying multiple dishes.
    — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 24 Feb. 2026
Definition of dirty
Verb
  • But across Oklahoma, the fluid is spreading uncontrollably belowground, blasting out of old, unplugged wells, polluting land and contaminating drinking water.
    — Katie Campbell, ProPublica, 2 June 2026
  • The city had rezoned the area allowing polluting heavy industry to proliferate the community.
    — Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Definition of pollute

Phrases Containing foul

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fought shy of
foul
fouled
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Cite this Entry

“Foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foul. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on foul

Nglish: Translation of foul for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about foul

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