fouling

verb

Definition of foulingnext
present participle of foul
1
as in staining
to make dirty the mechanic fouled the bath towels with axle grease

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2
as in polluting
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable industrial pollution fouling the water supply

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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

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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

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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 fouling Báez worked a full count in the fourth inning, fouling off a first-pitch changeup and taking another two pitches later for a ball. — Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026 And Cronenworth, fouling off pitches against lefty Aaron Ashby, did well to stave off a strikeout before hitting a soft bounder to first baseman Jake Bauers. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 Images distributed by Iran’s semiofficial news agency ISNA showed oil fouling the island's beaches. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026 Injury updates Miguel Rojas (ankle) was available off the bench despite exiting Saturday’s game after fouling a ball off his foot. — Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026 Congressional conservatives even called for the federal government to investigate the WNBA for civil-rights violations because of players fouling her. — Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 25 July 2026 But, experts say, the projects popping up in Miami-Dade are unlike those that grab headlines for fouling drinking water and driving up power bills — for now. — Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026 That’s great for game day, but Post Malone and Jelly Roll aren’t fouling off heaters during their show. — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 16 July 2026 Given he had been booked in the first half (for fouling Paredes, ironically), that meant a red. — Stuart James, New York Times, 12 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fouling
  1. staining
  2. polluting
  3. humiliating
  4. decomposing
  5. blackening
  6. poisoning
  7. discrediting
  8. disintegrating
Verb
  • If the grime is coming up but there’s still staining, spray some of the water and vinegar solution onto the area.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The closest look-alike, the black staining polypore mushroom, bruises to a black color when handled.
    — Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of staining
Verb
  • This novel legal approach, likened to a polluting factory, argues that AI chatbots cause mental harm, provide uncertified advice, and undermine public health and safety.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • This large mass will translate into higher quantities of polluting propellant needed to loft these systems off Earth and a much larger amount of metals vaporizing in Earth's atmosphere during reentry.
    — Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of polluting
Verb
  • The Iranians are now setting the terms of this conflict and are routinely humiliating the American president.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
  • Instead of demanding personal fealty or humiliating them to assert personal dominance, Lincoln absorbed their egos and occasional slights, elevating their talents and turning his fiercest political adversaries into his most devoted champions.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 June 2026
Definition of humiliating
Verb
  • But the last inspection was in October, 10 months before dozens of decomposing bodies were found at the South Chicago Chapel funeral home.
    — Megan De Mar, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • And just over a year after that, the Morgans landed back in the news after authorities found 56 decomposing corpses inside another one of their businesses, South Deering’s South Chicago Chapel.
    — Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of decomposing
Verb
  • Check monthly for signs of shriveling (add moisture), blackening or softening (discard).
    — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026
  • The Volcano fire was among blazes this week, blackening more than 100 acres in Riverside County.
    — Joseph Serna, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of blackening
Verb
  • Trump is also poisoning the process at a moment when the system for casting votes in the United States really does need shoring up.
    — Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
  • An unknown person has been poisoning mature pine trees at Burnt Cedar Beach in Incline Village since 2022, with 16 more trees targeted this July and August — a case some suspect involves a wealthy resident trying to improve their view of Lake Tahoe.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of poisoning
Verb
  • The release of his diaries though, revealed some thoroughly discrediting and upsetting details about Fauci's private beliefs.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Kiryl Pazniak, 49, who hosted a popular political show on YouTube, has been convicted on the charges of discrediting Belarus and forming an extremist organization, the group said — accusations widely used by authorities to stifle critical voices.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
Definition of discrediting
Verb
  • Teams must build enough psychological trust to disagree without disintegrating.
    — Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Others rot in the California sun, disintegrating into bony fragments.
    — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of disintegrating

Browse Nearby Words

fouled up
fouling
fouling up
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Cite this Entry

“Fouling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fouling. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of fouling for Spanish Speakers

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