foul play

noun

Definition of foul playnext
1
as in murder
the intentional and unlawful taking of another person's life the coroner ruled that there was no evidence of foul play

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in violence
the use of brute strength to cause harm to a person or property the suspect has a long history of foul play, and was once convicted on assault and battery charges

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 foul play The sheriff’s office said there was no indication of foul play. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026 On Monday, Panettiere’s rep confirmed the actress’ death at age 36 to Deadline, as police in Greenville, South Carolina initially announced that no foul play was suspected. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 23 Aug. 2026 There were no immediate, obvious signs of trauma or foul play on Wells’ body when it was found July 6 in the water near the coast of Horn Island, Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd told CNN. — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026 Police are investigating the death, but say there are no indications of foul play. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for foul play
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foul play
  1. murder
  2. violence
  3. homicide
  4. blood
  5. killing
Noun
  • Detectives charged him with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon for the vicious attack that killed his mother, 57-year-old Josefa Soto de Guzman, on Friday.
    — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Hatami has spearheaded a number of high-profile cases against child abusers in Los Angeles, California, including the murder of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez, who was tortured and killed by his mother and her boyfriend.
    — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of murder
Noun
  • Writing poetry about violence is not the same as experiencing it.
    — Wallis Wilde-Menozzi, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Experts see the union as evidence that Syria might actually be putting the era of sectarian violence behind it.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of violence
Noun
  • The Milwaukee Medical Examiner’s Office completed an autopsy, and said Hernandez-Lopez’s cause of death was listed as a gunshot wound to the neck and the manner of death was homicide, according to the complaint.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Anyone with information, video, or photos that could help investigators were asked to contact the police department's homicide unit at 3150-238-3821.
    — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of homicide
Noun
  • Kevin McCarthy captured a spectacular view as the eclipsed moon shone blood red in the skies over North Carolina, after a brief weather scare!
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • But unlike these flesh-and-blood examples, Miss Piggy doesn’t experience the discrimination of aging.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of blood
Noun
  • Citizen, published two months after Brown’s killing, seemed to channel that righteous fury.
    — Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The man a Wyandotte County deputy is charged with killing may have died not by homicide, but rather pre-existing illness, a medical expert testified in court Wednesday.
    — Sofi Zeman August 26, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of killing

Browse Nearby Words

foulness
foul play
fouls
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Foul play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foul%20play. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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