WordLens

foul

1 of 3adjective
/faʊl/
Forms:fouler,foulest
1

having an extremely unpleasant taste or smell

C2
  • The spoiled meat emitted a foul odor that permeated the entire kitchen.
  • The stagnant water in the pond had a foul taste, discouraging any attempts at drinking from it.
  • The dumpster behind the restaurant emitted a foul smell, deterring passersby from approaching.
  • The expired milk left a foul taste in her mouth, prompting an immediate reaction of disgust.
  • The public restroom had a foul atmosphere, with a combination of unpleasant smells.
Synonyms:
putridyuckystinkingoffensiverankickysmellyfoul-smellingfoetidfunkynastyill-scentednoisomegnarlyfetid
2

extremely unpleasant or disgusting, causing strong feelings of dislike

  • The foul behavior of the unruly crowd led to their removal from the premises.
  • The foul sight of the decaying animal carcass repulsed passersby.
  • The foul atmosphere in the neglected room made it unbearable to stay there.
  • The foul mood of the boss made everyone in the office tense and uncomfortable.
Synonyms:
repellingloathsomeunpleasantrevoltingloathlyrepellantunpleasingdistastefuldispleasingdisgustingskankyrepulsivewickedyuckyoff-puttingdisagreeablerepellentdisgustful
3

unfair or morally unacceptable, often involving unethical methods

  • The team resorted to foul strategies to win the championship.
  • She didn't deserve such foul treatment from her coworkers.
  • The company used foul tactics to edge out its competitors.
  • His foul approach to business left many rivals angry.
Synonyms:
unsportingimmoralcheating(a)dishonorabledeceptiveunethicaldirtyunfairunsportsmanlike
4

outside the boundaries of fair play, especially in baseball

  • Hitting a foul ball can stop a play in baseball.
  • Foul pitches are often used to tire out the opposing batter.
  • A foul hit went straight into the stands.
  • His foul throw caused the play to restart.
  • A foul ball is not counted as a hit in baseball.
Synonyms:
out of bounds
Antonyms:
fair
5

containing harmful or polluted substances

  • The foul air in the industrial zone made it difficult to breathe.
  • The foul smell from the garbage filled the entire street.
  • The foul water in the lake was unsafe for swimming.
  • After the spill, the river became foul and uninviting.
  • He avoided the foul swamp for safety reasons.
Synonyms:
filthypollutedimpuretaintednastycontaminateddirty
6

offensive or inappropriate, especially in language or behavior

  • His foul language shocked everyone in the room.
  • The movie contained foul jokes that many found offensive.
  • Foul remarks during the debate were quickly condemned by the audience.
  • She was reprimanded for using foul language at work.
  • The comedian's humor often relied on foul words for effect.
Synonyms:
boorishfilthyprofanesaltyearthybroadnastyrudecruddysmuttyunrefineduncouthcoarsevulgarcrudeindecentobscenecommon
7

referring to a draft or manuscript with corrections or revisions

  • The editor reviewed the foul manuscript before printing.
  • She handed in the foul proofs for final edits.
  • The foul copy contained several marked-up changes.
  • He worked through the foul draft to finalize it.
  • The author checked the foul manuscript for accuracy.
Synonyms:
marked-updirty
8

(of a ship's bottom) covered or obstructed by seaweed, barnacles, or other growths

  • The ship was delayed due to its foul hull, which needed cleaning.
  • A fouled bottom can reduce a ship's speed and efficiency.
  • The crew worked hard to remove the barnacles from the ship's foul bottom.
  • Regular maintenance is required to prevent ships from becoming fouled by marine growth.
  • The fouled hull caused the vessel to drift off course.
Synonyms:
afoul(ip)fouled
9

clogged or obstructed, often by dirt, debris, or waste

  • The pipes became foul with grease and debris.
  • The drain was foul, unable to clear the water.
  • A foul filter reduced the air quality in the room.
Synonyms:
pluggedblockedclogged