FOUL PLAY Synonyms: 108 Similar and Opposite Words

foul play

noun

Definition of foul play

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

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 Authorities said there was no evidence of foul play, while circumstances leading up to the fall remain unclear. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 The circumstances of her death were not immediately clear, but a person with knowledge of the situation said there were no indications of foul play or suicide. — Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 1 Oct. 2026 But one detective on the investigative team, Dick Martin, was convinced there was foul play. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026 In a statement Monday, the police department in Des Plains, Illinois, said there were no immediate indications of foul play and that the circumstances surrounding Satterley’s death were not considered suspicious. — Rudy Chinchilla, NBC news, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for foul play

Recent Examples of Synonyms for foul play

Noun

The boy was booked into Placer County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of murder, Gaines said.

— Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Three men in Mexico received 158-year prison sentences Friday for the murders of Australian surfers Callum and Jake Robinson and their American friend Carter Redd Rhoad.

— Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of murder

Noun

Garcia and other commissioners complained Miami-Dade was cashing in on a game that glorifies street violence and crime in Miami.

— Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026
More than 2,500 people had been taken into police custody by Monday evening, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said, after violence that included the burning of a historic town hall in Limoges, a city in central France.

— Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of violence

Noun

An affidavit prepared by a Fort Worth Police Department homicide detective outlines the circumstances that law enforcement authorities believe support Henton’s arrest for murder, the offense on suspicion of which he was arrested on Friday.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2026
Trump is correct that the United States has seen historic plunges in homicide, violent crime, robbery and property crime.

— Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of homicide

Noun

Hutch seemed unhurt beyond a twisted knee, but Ed, stripped naked, was a mass of small cuts and bright greening bruises that made an awful background for ridges of clotted blood.

— Gerald R. Hunter, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
The survey data included morning blood draws from fasting military members.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of blood

Noun

In August, Israel indicted a settler in the killing of a Palestinian activist.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
As Morris was facing trial for Parker’s killing, Ezell Finklea, a 61-year-old military veteran and witness who cooperated with Miami-Dade prosecutors despite threats to his life, was gunned down.

— Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of killing

Browse Nearby Words

foulness

foul play

fouls

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Foul play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foul%20play. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of foul play

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes