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   Foul

   /foul/

   

   adjective

   • 1. offensive to the senses, especially through having a disgusting smell or taste or being unpleasantly soiled: "a foul odor" Similar disgustingrevoltingrepellentrepulsiverepugnantabhorrentloathsomeoffensivedetestableawfuldreadfulhorribleterriblehorrendoushideousappallingatrociousvileabominablefrightfulsickeningnauseatingnauseousstomach-churningstomach-turningoff-puttinguninvitingunpalatableunappetizingunsavorydistastefulnastyobnoxiousobjectionableodiousnoxiousevil-smellingfoul-smellingsmellystinkinghighrankrancidfetidmalodorousvomitousinformal:ghastlyhorridgruesomegodawfulgrossdiabolicalputridyuckyickygrottysick-makinggut-churningbeastlywhiffypongyniffylousyskankyfunkyon the noseliterary:noisomemephiticarchaic:disgustfulloathlyrare:miasmicmiasmaloliddirtyfilthymuckygrimygrubbystaineddirt-encrustedmuddymuddieduncleanunwashedsqualidsordidshabbysleazynastysoiledsulliedscummyrottendefileddecayingputridputrefiedsmellyfetidinformal:cruddyyuckyickymankygungygrottyliterary:befouledbesmirchedbegrimedrare:feculentOpposite fragrant
   • ▪ very disagreeable or unpleasant: informal "the news had put Michelle in a foul mood" Similar unkindunfriendlydisagreeableinconsiderateuncharitablerudechurlishspitefulmaliciousmeanmean-spiritedill-temperedill-naturedill-humoredbad-temperedhostileviciousmalevolentevil-mindedsurlyobnoxiouspoisonousvenomousvindictivemalignmalignantcantankeroushatefulhurtfulcruelwoundingabusiveinformal:bitchycattyvulgar slang:shittyOpposite kind
   • 2. wicked or immoral: "murder most foul" Similar evilwickedsinfulimmoralwrongmorally wrongwrongfulbadiniquitouscorruptblack-heartedungodlyunholyirreligiousunrighteoussacrilegiousprofaneblasphemousimpiousbasemeanvilevillainousnefariouserringfallenimpuresulliedtaintedmonstrousshockingoutrageousatrociousabominablereprehensiblehatefuldetestabledespicableodiouscontemptiblehorribleheinousexecrablegodlessdiabolicaldiabolicfiendishviciousmurderousbarbarousblackdarkpervertedreprobatesordiddepraveddegeneratedissolutedishonorabledishonestunscrupulousunprincipledunderhandroguishcriminalillicitunlawfulillegalillegitimatelawlessinformal:crookedbentwarpedlowdownstinkingdirtyshadyrascallyscoundrellybeastlynot cricketmalfeasantarchaic:dastardlyrare:peccableegregiousflagitiousOpposite righteous
   • ▪ (of language) obscene or profane: "foul oaths" Similar vulgarobsceneprofaneblasphemousgrosscoarsecrudefilthydirtyindecentindelicatesuggestivesmuttyoff colorlowlewdribaldsalaciousscatologicaloffensiveabusiveinformal:blueOpposite mild
   • ▪ done contrary to the rules of a sport: "a foul tackle"
   • 3. containing or charged with noxious matter; polluted: "foul, swampy water" Similar contaminatedpollutedadulteratedinfectedtainteddefiledimpurefilthydirtyuncleanrare:feculentOpposite clean
   • ▪ clogged or choked with: "the land was foul with weeds"
   • ▪ (of a rope or anchor) entangled.
   • ▪ (of a ship's bottom) encrusted with algae, barnacles, or other marine growth.
   • ▪ (of a first copy or proof) defaced by corrections.
   • 4. (of the weather) wet and stormy: "he walked in fair and foul weather" Similar inclementunpleasantdisagreeabledirtynastyroughbadstormysquallygustywindyblusteryblowywildrainywetfoggymistygloomymurkyovercastlouringOpposite fair
   • ▪ (of wind or tide) opposed to one's desired course: "it sometimes becomes advantageous to anchor during the periods of foul tide"

   noun

   • 1. (in sports) an unfair or invalid stroke or piece of play, especially one involving interference with an opponent. Similar unfairagainst the rulesillegalunsportingunsportsmanlikebelow the beltdirtydishonorabledishonestunderhandunscrupulousunjustunprincipledimmoralcrookedfraudulentinformal:shadyOpposite fair
   • ▪ a collision or entanglement in riding, rowing, or running.
   • ▪ short for foul ball
   • 2. a disease in the feet of cattle: informal, dated "he was indeed suffering from foul of the foot"

   adverb

   • 1. unfairly; contrary to the rules.
   • ▪ (in sports) in foul territory: "if a batter hits a bunt foul with two strikes, he is out"

   verb

   • 1. make foul or dirty; pollute: "factories that fouled the atmosphere" Similar dirtysoilstainblackenmuddybegrimesplashspattersmearbefoulbesmirchblightdefilemake filthyinfectpollutecontaminatepoisontaintadulteratesullyliterary:besmear
   • ▪ disgrace or dishonor.
   • ▪ (of an animal) make (something) dirty with excrement: "make sure that your pet never fouls the sidewalk"
   • ▪ (of a person) defecate involuntarily.
   • 2. (in sports) commit a foul against (an opponent).
   • ▪ hit a foul ball: "Carter fouled into the glove of Boggs"
   • 3. collide with or obstruct: "the ships became overcrowded and fouled each other"
   • ▪ cause (a cable, anchor, or other object) to become entangled or jammed: "seaweed or barnacles could clog or foul the propeller" Similar tangle upentanglesnarlcatchentwineenmeshtwisttangle
   • ▪ (of a cable, anchor, or other object) become entangled or jammed: "we feared the anchor would foul in the heavy grasses" Similar tangle upentanglesnarlcatchentwineenmeshtwisttangle

   Word Origin Old Englishfūl, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse fúll ‘foul’, Dutch vuil ‘dirty’, and German faul ‘rotten, lazy’, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin pus, Greek puos ‘pus’, and Latin putere ‘to stink’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. foully adverb
   • 2. foulness noun

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • F

     4

   • O

     1

   • U

     1

   • L

     1

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2. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › foulFoul - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › foul

   Foul is most commonly used as an adjective to describe a bad smell. As a verb, foul usually means “make dirty or messy.”. You might foul your room to the point where it smells a bit foul. In general, foul can be used as an adjective meaning "bad." Foul luck is bad luck; a foul day is a bad day.

3. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishFOUL definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   2 days ago · 1. adjective. If you describe something as foul, you mean it is dirty and smells or tastes unpleasant. ...foul polluted water. The smell was quite foul. Synonyms: dirty, rank, offensive, nasty More Synonyms of foul. 2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun] Foul language is offensive and contains swear words or rude words.

4. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishfoul adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

   • Cached

   to get into trouble with a person or an organization because of doing something wrong or illegal. Definition of foul adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

5. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › americanfoul adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › american

   • Cached

   to complain that someone else has done something wrong or unfair. fall foul of somebody/something. to get into trouble with a person or an organization because of doing something wrong or illegal to fall foul of the law See foul in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Check pronunciation: foul.

6. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishFOUL | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

   • Cached

   to do something that is against the rules in a sport: He was fouled as he was about to shoot at goal. Phrasal verbs. foul sth up. noun [ C ] uk / faʊl / us. something that someone does in a sport that is not allowed by the rules. (Definition of foul from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press) Translations of foul.

7. www.thefreedictionary.com › foulFoul - definition of foul by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › foul

   • Cached

   d. Entangled or enwrapped: a foul anchor. 3. a. Morally detestable; wicked: foul deeds. b. Vulgar or obscene: foul language. c. Violating accepted standards or rules; dishonorable: used foul means to gain power. 4. a. Very disagreeable or displeasing; horrid: a foul movie. b. Inclement or unfavorable: in fair weather or foul.

8. en.m.wiktionary.org › wiki › foulfoul - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

   en.m.wiktionary.org › wiki › foul

   • Cached

   Apr 12, 2024 · Unpleasant, stormy or rainy. (of the weather) Some foul weather is brewing. Dishonest or not conforming to the established rules and customs of a game, conflict, test, etc. Foul play is not suspected. ( nautical) Entangled and therefore restricting free movement, not clear . We've got a foul anchor.