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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of foul play
Andrew Noblett has said no foul play is suspected, but officials will continue to treat the incident as an active investigation.
—
Caroline Silva, AJC.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Investigators do not suspect foul play in connection with DeEtte’s disappearance, according to KSL.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
Police do not suspect foul play.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Feb. 2026
Investigators suspect Castro’s death was caused by alcohol and freezing temperatures, not foul play, police said.
—Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foul play
Caroline Silva, AJC.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Investigators do not suspect foul play in connection with DeEtte’s disappearance, according to KSL.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
Police do not suspect foul play.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Feb. 2026
Investigators suspect Castro’s death was caused by alcohol and freezing temperatures, not foul play, police said.
—Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foul play
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foul play
Noun
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As teens, both were prosecuted in adult court for murder.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
William Brock, 83, was sentenced this week to 21 years to life for murder, felonious assault and kidnapping in Toland-Hall’s killing.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But some experts on gun violence are still wary of endorsing the program.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
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The film delves into young sisters’ lives shaped by ancestral violence and the lasting impact of abuse.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
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This is the second mass homicide in British Columbia in less than a year.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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There was blood spatter on her front stoop, and the blood turned out to be hers.—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
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The social media star, who studied biomedical engineering, also gleefully unveiled the math behind an ocean of synthetic blood — two pumps running for eight hours at 190 gallons per minute.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a non-profit research organization, has tracked nihilistic attacks across the globe, including stabbings in Sweden by teenagers associated with a group called No Lives Matter, and the killing of three girls in northern England.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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Despite a recent string of shark attacks across the California coast, including the tragic killing of a 55-year-old swimmer, the violent incidents dropped in the United States in 2025 compared to the year prior.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foul play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foul%20play. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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