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
His challenge earned him a yellow card, but in some instances that foul would’ve drawn a red. —Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 13 Apr. 2025 The ball squirted under Turner’s glove and into foul territory, giving San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. time to score from second base. —Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
In the communities along the Gunpowder River, from Joppatowne and Rumsey Island as well as down past Harewood and Oliver Beach in Baltimore County, the clays and silts continue to foul the waters. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 7 Mar. 2025 In addition, Kansas struggled to defend the Wildcats without fouling. —Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 9 Mar. 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
  • Interesting, turbulent life (including 22 years in prison).
    — Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Overanalyzing every win and loss will make your journey feel more turbulent than necessary.
    — Nelson Chu, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of turbulent
Adjective
  • The administration accuses other countries of erecting unfair trade barriers to keep out American exports and using underhanded tactics to promote their own.
    — Time, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Critics argue that the lack of competition and captive audience at airports give vendors unfair pricing power.
    — Zach Wichter, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of unfair
Adjective
  • These were disgusting, irresponsible comments by someone who is charged with overseeing public health for hundreds of millions of people.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Do not tell the patient disgusting hospital stories about your own operations or procedures.
    — Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of disgusting
Adjective
  • Deputies found and arrested Betancourt, who was sentenced March 21 to six years and eight months in state prison for felony child abuse causing injury, felony domestic violence, witness intimidation, and possession of obscene matter depicting persons under age 18 engaged in lewd conduct.
    — Bay City News Service, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Lovable, charming and generous, yet temperamental, arrogant and obscene.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 11 Apr. 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
  • Aurangzeb imprisoned his ailing father in 1658 and defeated his brother the year after, before forcibly parading him in chains on a filthy elephant on the streets of Delhi.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
  • The network has ordered Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Service, which will see the celebrity chef go undercover to rescue America’s filthiest restaurants.
    — Peter White, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of filthy
Verb
  • For example, a small non-shedding dog that rarely goes outside won't dirty a bed nearly as fast as a large labarador that plays outside daily.
    — Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Grease dirtied the handles of the ovens, the microwave ovens and the coolers.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 14 Feb. 2025
Definition of dirty
Verb
  • Seventy percent of the beaches in Gaza are polluted with sewage because of the lack of electricity, preventing them from treating wastewater.
    — Troy Aidan Sambajon, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 2025
  • And while housing grows increasingly unaffordable, homeless camps have exploded, spilling into city parks, crowding sidewalks, and polluting sensitive waterways, despite unprecedented public spending.
    — Angela Hart, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2025
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 23 Apr. 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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