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
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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
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Recent Examples of foul play
In another foul play, the governor’s office swiftly, successfully moved to remove one of the judges, Lee Marsh, who had ruled against the 2022 gerrymander.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026
The Sierra Madre Police Department said Saturday that a man — at that point unidentified — died after having a medical emergency on the trail and that no foul play was suspected.
—Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
An autopsy is pending to determine the cause of death, but Linhardt said investigators don’t suspect foul play.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 11 May 2026
No foul play is suspected, sources told CBS News.
—Duarte Dias, CBS News, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for foul play
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026
The Sierra Madre Police Department said Saturday that a man — at that point unidentified — died after having a medical emergency on the trail and that no foul play was suspected.
—Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
An autopsy is pending to determine the cause of death, but Linhardt said investigators don’t suspect foul play.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 11 May 2026
No foul play is suspected, sources told CBS News.
—Duarte Dias, CBS News, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for foul play
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foul play
Noun
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The cruel cartoon of a constantly shrewish, venal, and disloyal Mary began cementing itself in the public mind when William Herndon, Lincoln’s Springfield law partner, started lecturing about his reminiscences within months of the President’s murder.—
Thomas Mallon,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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Last week, the South Carolina Supreme Court delivered an account of how Hill’s conduct during the 2023 double-murder trial crossed ethical and constitutional lines, ultimately unraveling the state’s conviction of Murdaugh.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
Noun
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Police parked anti-riot vehicles in a central Belgrade area to block the demonstrators from returning, and the violence soon ended.—
Jovana Gec,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
-
Police parked anti-riot vehicles in a central Belgrade area to block the demonstrators from returning and the violence soon ended.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 May 2026
Noun
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The arrest was made in coordination with the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD), which holds an arrest warrant for charges related to a 1986 homicide in Virginia Beach, Newington police said in a media release.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
20 May 2026
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Authorities said the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office later concluded that homicide could not be ruled out in Bravo’s death.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
19 May 2026
Noun
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According to the Cleveland Clinic, a stem cell transplant can treat — and sometimes cure — certain blood disorders, cancers and autoimmune diseases by replacing unhealthy stem cells with healthy ones, either from the patient's own bone marrow or donated stem cells from another person.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
23 May 2026
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Crucially, for medical interventions, Oberau is just a 15-minute drive from the private hospital where Stephan Papp is head of radiology, so Mount Med guests are fast-tracked for everything from next-day blood results to MRI scans, thanks to full access to the hospital’s laboratories and equipment.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 May 2026
Noun
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Cynteria’s killing — and the girl’s history of abuse — changed how child welfare workers track runaway children.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
18 May 2026
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He was arrested in May 2024 and was later charged with Vesey’s killing while behind bars, with investigators revealing she had been murdered inside her apartment the day after her 21st birthday on July 12, 1980, officials said.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foul play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foul%20play. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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