as in contaminated
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
as in stained
to make dirty
the mechanic fouled the bath towels with axle grease
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in polluted
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable
industrial pollution fouling the water supply
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
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
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 fouled
CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
UConn took its first double-digit lead in the opening half when Jayden Ross hit three free throws after being fouled on a 3-pointer.
—Jim Fuller, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
The Patriots were up by 10 in the final seconds of the quarter when the Mustangs’ Adelyn Boberg hit a 3-pointer and a free throw after being fouled on the shot.
—Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026
Bidunga caught the inbounds pass and handed off to Peterson, who immediately looked to shoot and was fouled.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 7 Jan. 2026
Davis was fouled and made both free throws – 71-66 with 17 seconds left.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Texas instead thrived behind the three-point play that happens when a player scores while being fouled and then makes the subsequent free throw.
—Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 5 Jan. 2026
Other notable differences include shorter possessions (18-second shot clocks instead of 24) and only one free throw whether a player is fouled on a 2- or 3-point attempt.
—Ben Pickman, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Powell was fouled on a three-point attempt, making all three free throws.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Gonzalez fouled Brunson once but otherwise held up respectably against the Knicks star in his maiden shift.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
With the Rockets up one, Durant fouled Gilgeous-Alexander with two seconds left, picking up his sixth personal foul and exiting the game.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
The Brewers trailed the Dodgers 3-1 with two outs and a runner on second in the top of the seventh when Chourio fouled off a Blake Treinen sweeper.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
During an at-bat between Tigers ace Tarik Skubal and Guardians hitter Angel Martinez, the former delivered a 100-mph fastball that the latter fouled off on an 0-2 count.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors goes up to shoot and gets fouled by Malik Monk #0 of the Sacramento Kings during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on March 13, 2025 in San Francisco, California.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Allen was fouled on the ensuing inbounds play and made both free throws.
—Verb
Ohtani was critical of himself for following up a 97-mph hour fastball that Guerrero fouled off with the pitch Guerrero hit for his seventh homer of these playoffs.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for fouled
Adjective
-
Major soil removal underway Meerbott said restoring the park has become a priority as crews work to remove contaminated soil.—
-
Leptospirosis can also be found in contaminated water or soil and is spread by rodents.—
Verb
-
Frank doesn’t mind having people killed for his agenda, but has avoided getting his hands stained with blood.—
-
Cut the blanket into smaller pieces, avoiding areas that are worn, ripped, or stained, and turn them into pillow covers, tote bags, cushions, dog bedding, and more.—
Verb
-
Highways, viaducts, giant interchanges, and a major Metro junction viciously mutilated São Paulo’s downtown in the 1960s and ’70s, demoting it from a popular residential area to a commercial transfer hub, overcrowded and polluted by day but forlorn by night.—
-
Their natural environment is being polluted and burned down, and people still hunt them for their meat.—
Verb
-
She had never been arrested before and felt humiliated when her mugshot was plastered all over the news after her arrest.—
-
She was humiliated when her oldest son was forced to testify in a divorce case.—
Verb
-
The first was that the obstacles were decomposed into cuboids.—
-
Rivas’ cause and manner of death are still being determined by the medical examiner; the exam is taking longer than usual as the remains were severely decomposed.—
Adjective
-
Federal officials advise customers not to use the tainted cinnamon and throw it away.—
-
Clostridium botulinum can be unevenly spread throughout powdered formula, so not all babies who consume a tainted product will fall ill, according to medical experts.—
Verb
-
The footage from drone cameras shows a large area of industrial Louisville charred and blackened from smoke and fire damage.—
-
Skip any skins that look moldy, blackened, or spoiled.—
Verb
-
Residents are also urged to watch children closely while playing outdoors where mushrooms grow and to keep pets away, since animals can be poisoned as well.—
-
In June 2024, Bich poisoned a fourth relative — a teenager — who survived after collapsing and being rushed to the hospital, where doctors discovered cyanide in his stomach and alerted the family, the outlets reported.—
Cite this Entry
“Fouled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fouled. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share