foul play

noun

Definition of foul playnext
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

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 play Greenville police previously said their preliminary investigation found no evidence of foul play or suspicious circumstances. — Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 The sheriff’s office said there was no indication of foul play. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026 On Monday, Panettiere’s rep confirmed the actress’ death at age 36 to Deadline, as police in Greenville, South Carolina initially announced that no foul play was suspected. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 23 Aug. 2026 There were no immediate, obvious signs of trauma or foul play on Wells’ body when it was found July 6 in the water near the coast of Horn Island, Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd told CNN. — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for foul play
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foul play
  1. murder
  2. violence
  3. homicide
  4. blood
  5. killing
Noun
  • The 63-year-old Davis was convicted Monday of murder with the use of a deadly weapon and could be sentenced to life in prison.
    — Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Clancy, 36, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder in the January 2023 strangulation deaths of her three children – Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months – at the family's Duxbury, Massachusetts, home.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of murder
Noun
  • Younger adults, between the ages of 18 to 29, were more likely than others to say violence was sometimes OK, especially those with heavy social media use, according to the study.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The council was issuing a proclamation about gun violence prevention.
    — Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of violence
Noun
  • Troopers from the New Jersey State Police Marine Bureau arrested Kevin Wells, 40, of Warren, New Jersey, on Friday, charging him with vehicular homicide and two counts of assault by vessel while intoxicated.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The 10-episode drama stars Liev Schreiber as Jonah Lynn, a former soldier turned homicide detective who moves to a small town in western Pennsylvania after working the tough streets of Philadelphia.
    — Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of homicide
Noun
  • After being implanted beneath the skin of their backs, the tissues developed their own blood supply and began to contract spontaneously.
    — Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Among adult pedestrians killed in nighttime crashes, about a third had blood alcohol levels indicating intoxication; so did about 20% of those killed during the day.
    — Paula Span, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of blood
Noun
  • Citizen, published two months after Brown’s killing, seemed to channel that righteous fury.
    — Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The man a Wyandotte County deputy is charged with killing may have died not by homicide, but rather pre-existing illness, a medical expert testified in court Wednesday.
    — Sofi Zeman August 26, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of killing

Browse Nearby Words

foulness
foul play
fouls
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Foul play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foul%20play. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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