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- Dictionaryfoul/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
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4O
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