FOULED Synonyms: 252 Similar and Opposite Words

fouled 1 of 2

adjective

as in contaminated

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fouled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of foul

as in stained

to make dirty the mechanic fouled the bath towels with axle grease

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in polluted

to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable industrial pollution fouling the water supply

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in humiliated

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in decomposed

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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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 fouled

Adjective

But the opening period didn’t end without a scary moment, as Antetokounmpo fell hard on his back side after being fouled on a dunk attempt late in the first quarter. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026 Pablo was fouled in the build up to Mavropanos’s equaliser, with summer signing Arne Engels providing the assist from a free kick. — Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 Leading 46-40 at halftime, the Sun went on an 8-0 run that started with a driving layup by Nelson-Ododa, who was fouled and completed the three-point play. — Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026 The moment was significant because Cunningham was the in the WNBA to stand up for Clark, the league's biggest star, who is perpetually fouled hard. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Salaün had a chance to tie it after being fouled on a 3-point attempt late, but missed her last free throw of the trio. — Staff, Mercury News, 30 July 2026 In the future, more regulations may be established to turn away ships that are too heavily fouled, Tamburri said. — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 25 July 2026 Clark was also fouled while shooting a 3-pointer later in the second quarter. — CBS News, 25 June 2026 One minute into the 1974 World Cup final in West Germany, Holland legend Johan Cruyff was fouled in the penalty area and history was about to be made. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 June 2026

Verb

But Dream forward Naz Hillmon fouled Valkyries forward Cecilia Zandalasini on a 3-point attempt and officials upgraded it to a Flagrant 1 because Zandalasini didn’t have room to land. — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 18 Oct. 2026 Dreyer's 13th goal of the season came after Cédric Bakambu was fouled by LA keeper JT Marcinkowski. — ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026 His 15th goal of the season came after he was fouled by Red Bulls midfielder Adri Mehmeti. — CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 The second of those rejections sparked a fast break, which ended with Bryant getting fouled at the rim and making a pair of free throws. — Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 14 Oct. 2026 Two days later, Reese swiped at the ball in Clark’s hands after Clark was fouled, prompting the longtime rivals to exchange words. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026 Skubal came back inside with a fastball that Baldwin fouled off. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026 The penalty was awarded early in the second half, with Brooks deciding that Sunderland’s Dan Ballard had been fouled by Arsenal defender Ezri Konsa. — Art De Roché, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fouled

Adjective

To break the chains of infections stemming from contaminated needles, Soqo has proposed supplying thousands of sterile needles and syringes to communities of methamphetamine users.

— David Cox, NPR, 26 Sep. 2026
After our investigation, my colleagues and I published a paper describing the anthrax cases from contaminated mail.

— Daniel Jernigan, STAT, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of contaminated

Verb

Bookshelves are crammed with novels and almanacs, the wood boards of the ceilings stained dark in delicious contrast to the clean white walls and creamy linen furnishings.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
The yellow color from the fenbendazole stained his white goatee.

— Trisha Thadani Kirsten Potter Tanya Pérez Devin Murphy, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of stained

Verb

In a world riven by democratic backsliding and polluted with AI slop, there’s something seductive about the idea of retreating to a wild, unnavigable place where no one can follow you—because you’ll be submerged up to your eyeballs.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
In the northern part of the district, the waterfront is polluted by ships.

— Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of polluted

Verb

However, Rob Shuter is reporting that Meghan believes Kate purposefully humiliated her by recently taking Princess Charlotte on the London Underground.

— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 15 Oct. 2026
His daughter is humiliated, and the message could not be clearer.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of humiliated

Adjective

Some say that our country is too tainted and that political progress can be had only by extra-legal means.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
Many Coloradans spent the last few months changing their diets, avoiding produce in fear of tainted food, as nearly 20,000 people across the country were sick after a historic cyclospora outbreak that came from contaminated lettuce.

— Jaimie Dodge, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of tainted

Verb

Apparently, Griffith now suspected that the Mesmers had poisoned Briswalter, and planned to poison him next.

— Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 14 Oct. 2026
The video cuts to Swift living out exactly what Johnson’s been living through, revealing that Farrell poisoned Swift, leading to her death.

— Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of poisoned

Browse Nearby Words

foul

fouled

fouled up

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Style

“Fouled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fouled. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of fouled

adjective

verb

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