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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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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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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
Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025
Cats often express their dismay at being excluded from your travel plans by peeing in your luggage, but of course, cat urine is not the only thing that can cause a foul odor in your suitcase.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2025
Mark Critchley, New York Times, 12 July 2025
Batted balls that are caught in the air are outs; strikeouts occur when a batter swings through one pitch or fouls off two of them.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for foul
Adjective
Most of the complaints were about the foul smells coming from her home.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025
Cats often express their dismay at being excluded from your travel plans by peeing in your luggage, but of course, cat urine is not the only thing that can cause a foul odor in your suitcase.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2025
Verb
Villa failed to secure Champions League football after losing 2-0 against United on the final day of the season, with Martinez receiving a red card after fouling Rasmus Hojlund outside the penalty area.
—Mark Critchley, New York Times, 12 July 2025
Batted balls that are caught in the air are outs; strikeouts occur when a batter swings through one pitch or fouls off two of them.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for foul
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foul
Adjective
-
Flying across the country alone with my infant was far less turbulent with the right preparation.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
1 Aug. 2025
-
For Michelle, 28, knowing her long-term relationship was over—one that had started with a DM, spanned four years, and was turbulent in the way that made letting go feel impossible—came down to seeing him with someone else…in a video watched by over a million people.—
Morgan Sullivan,
Vogue,
31 July 2025
Adjective
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Property managers find fault with the current program Some property managers have raised concerns about the way the program works, claiming its requirements are unfair to responsible property owners and managers who are actively trying to remedy maintenance issues, particularly in older buildings.—
Ella McCarthy,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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Israel also faces prejudice and unfair expectations that would not be faced by many other countries in such circumstances.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
29 July 2025
Adjective
-
This disgusting breach of civil rights against students will not stand.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 July 2025
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There are explosions, too, and lots of NSFW supe antics, like one unidentified supe hacking up a disgusting ball of...something from her throat that splatters on Kimiko's cheek.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
26 July 2025
Adjective
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The law requires pornographic websites to verify users’ ages – for example by making users scan and upload their driver’s license – before granting access to content that is deemed obscene for minors but not adults.—
Meg Leta Jones,
The Conversation,
27 June 2025
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Lawsuit alleges 'obscene' government overreach Longo's lawsuit, filed in Chemung County, New York, names the county, the city of Elmira and several DEC officers as defendants.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
12 July 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
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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
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Indeed, the trio looked filthy, and one even had a red, watery eye.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
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Sharp has long been one of New York’s filthiest comedians.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
22 July 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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If contaminated floodwater is swallowed, or pollutes drinking water, this can lead to gastrointestinal illnesses such as stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.—
ByMary Kekatos,
ABC News,
11 July 2025
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For decades, biologists have studied how cities affect wildlife by altering food supplies, fragmenting habitats and polluting the environment.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foul. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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