1
as in staining
to make dirty
the mechanic fouled the bath towels with axle grease
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in polluting
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 humiliating
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 decomposing
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
Examples Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fouling
Verb
-
No matter the political complications, countries continued to deploy clean energy at a rapid clip this year driven by economics (renewables are often cheaper than fossil fuels) and energy-security concerns (producing clean electricity at home means less reliance on polluting imports).—
Justin Worland,
TIME,
26 Dec. 2024 -
This is yet another example of how humans and the organizations run by humans are polluting the Earth and its bodies of water with all sorts of things including a range of different pharmaceutical products.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Salting on sidewalks and driveways can also run off into your lawn and landscape, poisoning your plants.—
Markis Hill,
Kansas City Star,
3 Jan. 2025
-
Defense lawyers said that speech included a series of improper and prejudicial comments against the defendants and their legal team, poisoning any potential jurors against them.—
Kate Brumback,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Many of the conspiracy theories have prompted FEMA to create a page on its site discrediting rumors and false information about its response to Hurricane Helene.—
Nicole Sganga,
CBS News,
14 Oct. 2024
-
Still, the United States didn’t recognize Haiti as a nation until 1862, during the Civil War, when American leadership was looking for any support in discrediting slavery.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes,
10 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
Their ancient bones are in the process of disintegrating.—
Laura Collins-Hughes,
New York Times,
3 Jan. 2025
-
Except—and for me, the difference is crucial—Akhtar employed his creativity and imagination to shape these source materials into an utterly original work of art, whereas the rapidly disintegrating McNeal employs a chatbot, which shapes the material into an uncannily precise act of mimesis.—
Ayad Akhtar,
The Atlantic,
4 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The regulations, enacted by the Obama administration, prevented internet providers from degrading competitors’ services.—
Ian Prasad Philbrick,
New York Times,
3 Jan. 2025
-
But Israel has drifted far from this vision, culminating in its current government’s outspoken goal of annexing the West Bank, while degrading the rights of Arab Israelis.—
Ben Krull,
New York Daily News,
29 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Then came the yacht’s renaissance by her father, who saw beauty and sailing prowess inside a rotting hull.—
Tristan Rutherford,
Robb Report,
3 Jan. 2025
-
Rotting Flesh and the Skeleton Underneath Eggers wanted the audience almost to smell the rotting flesh when the sarcophagus is flipped open.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
2 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The It alum underwent yet another dramatic transformation for his latest role, including prosthetics to give him decaying skin, protruding cheekbones, and an altogether frightening look.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
5 Jan. 2025
-
But in the city’s old neighborhoods, nothing seems to have changed apart from new street signs that have been posted incongruously on decaying buildings and market stalls.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
2 Jan. 2025
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.
Thesaurus Entries Near fouling
Cite this Entry
“Fouling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fouling. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share