foul 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfau̇(-ə)l How to pronounce foul (audio)
Definition of foulnext
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

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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

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3
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment a foul taste that made us gag

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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
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
  1. turbulent
  2. unfair
  3. disgusting
  4. obscene
  5. stinking
  6. filthy
  7. dirty
  8. pollute
Adjective
  • All died in the turbulent waters of Lake Michigan while vacationing in South Haven, where public outrage over the lack of lifeguards has been building.
    — Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 21 July 2025
  • Wander the ruins of Cristóvão de Moura’s palace, a poignant echo of Portugal’s turbulent entanglement with Spanish rule.
    — Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Definition of turbulent
Adjective
  • But South Korean cars from Hyundai and Kia factor significantly into the $66-billion trade deficit that Trump has decried as unfair.
    — arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 13 July 2025
  • Many schools that served mostly low-income students were issued D’s and F’s, which many educators and parents found unfair.
    — Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2025
Definition of unfair
Adjective
  • That being cold is cool and being hot with a side of humidity is rather disgusting.
    — Sherry Kuehl, Kansas City Star, 16 July 2025
  • Nearly 200 pounds of disgusting mats and fur was removed, which equates to an average of 1.5 pounds per dog.
    — Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025
Definition of disgusting
Adjective
  • 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
  • The court acknowledged that protecting minors from material that would be considered obscene from their perspective was a compelling government interest.
    — Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 5 July 2025
Definition of obscene
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
  • 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
Definition of stinking
Adjective
  • Indeed, the trio looked filthy, and one even had a red, watery eye.
    — Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
  • Sharp has long been one of New York’s filthiest comedians.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 22 July 2025
Definition of filthy
Verb
  • 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
  • Crow-Armstrong has dirtied up the White Sox in six of those games, batting .458 with eight RBIs and a homer.
    — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025
Definition of dirty
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of pollute

Phrases Containing foul

Browse Nearby Words

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 29 Jul. 2025.

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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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