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   foul

   /faʊl/

   adjective

   • 1. offensive to the senses, especially through having a disgusting smell or taste or being dirty: "a foul odour" Similar disgustingrevoltingrepellentrepulsiverepugnantabhorrentloathsomeoffensivedetestableawfuldreadfulhorribleterriblehorrendoushideousappallingatrociousvileabominablefrightfulsickeningnauseatingnauseousstomach-churningstomach-turningoff-puttinguninvitingunpalatableunappetizingunsavourydistastefulnastyobnoxiousobjectionableodiousnoxiousevil-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-humouredbad-temperedhostileviciousmalevolentevil-mindedsurlyobnoxiouspoisonousvenomousvindictivemalignmalignantcantankeroushatefulhurtfulcruelwoundingabusiveinformal:bitchycattyvulgar slang:shittyOpposite kind
   • 2. wicked or immoral: "murder most foul" Similar evilwickedsinfulimmoralwrongmorally wrongwrongfulbadiniquitouscorruptblack-heartedungodlyunholyirreligiousunrighteoussacrilegiousprofaneblasphemousimpiousbasemeanvilevillainousnefariouserringfallenimpuresulliedtaintedmonstrousshockingoutrageousatrociousabominablereprehensiblehatefuldetestabledespicableodiouscontemptiblehorribleheinousexecrablegodlessdiabolicaldiabolicfiendishviciousmurderousbarbarousblackdarkpervertedreprobatesordiddepraveddegeneratedissolutedishonourabledishonestunscrupulousunprincipledunderhandroguishcriminalillicitunlawfulillegalillegitimatelawlessinformal:crookedbentwarpedlow-downstinkingdirtyshadyrascallyscoundrellybeastlynot cricketmalfeasantarchaic:dastardlyrare:peccableegregiousflagitiousOpposite righteous
   • ▪ (of language) obscene: "foul oaths" Similar vulgarobsceneprofaneblasphemousgrosscoarsecrudefilthydirtyindecentindelicatesuggestivesmuttyoff colourlowlewdribaldsalaciousscatologicaloffensiveabusiveinformal:blueOpposite mild
   • ▪ done contrary to the rules of a sport: "a foul tackle"
   • 3. containing or full of 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) overgrown with weed, barnacles, or similar matter.
   • 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 sport) an unfair or invalid stroke or piece of play, especially one involving interference with an opponent: "the midfielder was booked for a foul on Ford" Similar unfairagainst the rulesillegalunsportingunsportsmanlikebelow the beltdirtydishonourabledishonestunderhandunscrupulousunjustunprincipledimmoralcrookedfraudulentinformal:shadyOpposite fair
   • ▪ a collision or entanglement in riding, rowing, or running.
   • 2. a disease in the feet of cattle: informal, dated "he was indeed suffering from foul of the foot"

   adverb

   • 1. contrary to the rules; unfairly.

   verb

   • 1. make foul or dirty; pollute: "factories which fouled the atmosphere" Similar dirtysoilstainblackenmuddybegrimesplashspattersmearbefoulbesmirchblightdefilemake filthyinfectpollutecontaminatepoisontaintadulteratesullyliterary:besmear
   • ▪ (of an animal) make (something) dirty with excrement: "make sure that your pet never fouls paths"
   • ▪ (of a person) defecate involuntarily.
   • 2. (in sport) commit a foul against (an opponent): "United claim their keeper was fouled"
   • 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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