fouling
noun
foul·ing ˈfau̇-liŋ 
: deposit, incrustation
fouling on a ship's bottom
Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
fouling
verb
1
as in staining
to make dirty the mechanic fouled the bath towels with axle grease Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- staining
- blackening
- dirtying
- soiling
- messing
- mucking
- befouling
- sullying
- polluting
- smudging
- muddying
- besmirching
- contaminating
- distaining
- griming
- daubing
- miring
- smirching
- gauming
- tainting
- discoloring
- defiling
- begriming
- bemiring
- disordering
- muddling
- disarranging
- draggling
- disheveling
- jumbling
- collying
- dishevelling
- confusing
- disarraying
- crocking
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cleaning
- cleansing
- purging
- purifying
- decontaminating
- wiping
- scrubbing
- disinfecting
- brushing
- washing
- sweeping
- sanitizing
- rinsing
- dusting
- scouring
- mopping
- laundering
- freshening
- renewing
- deodorizing
- brightening
- sprucing (up)
- straightening (up)
- dry-cleaning
- tidying (up)
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
- polluting
- poisoning
- contaminating
- befouling
- tainting
- defiling
- infecting
- soiling
- dirtying
- sullying
- staining
- smudging
- besmirching
- blackening
- diluting
- rotting
- corrupting
- muddying
- spoiling
- adulterating
- miring
- griming
- watering down
- fouling up
- smirching
- doctoring
- begriming
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cleaning
- purifying
- cleansing
- clearing
- purging
- clarifying
- filtering
- decontaminating
- distilling
- sterilizing
- disinfecting
- sanitizing
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
- humiliating
- discrediting
- degrading
- embarrassing
- shaming
- disgracing
- dishonoring
- rattling
- insulting
- debasing
- lowering
- sinking
- cheapening
- demeaning
- confusing
- minimizing
- diminishing
- criticizing
- humbling
- abasing
- taking down
- flustering
- ridiculing
- disconcerting
- chastening
- smirching
- detracting
- discounting
- decrying
- discountenancing
- confounding
- defiling
- mortifying
- maligning
- condemning
- disparaging
- libeling
- defaming
- belittling
- fazing
- castigating
- slandering
- depreciating
- affronting
- discomfiting
- nonplussing
- crying down
- denouncing
- libelling
- abashing
- writing off
- bad-mouthing
- execrating
- censuring
- reprobating
- nonplusing
- damning
- reprehending
- putting down
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- elevating
- exalting
- aggrandizing
- praising
- decorating
- deifying
- recognizing
- honoring
- citing
- celebrating
- canonizing
- applauding
- complimenting
- lauding
- cheering
- acknowledging
- saluting
- boasting
- commending
- hailing
- eulogizing
- congratulating
- advancing
- lifting
- upgrading
- highlighting
- touting
- promoting
- feting
- raising
- fêting
- boosting
- acclaiming
- glorifying
- spotlighting
- enshrining
- extolling
- magnifying
- dignifying
- romanticizing
- ennobling
- enthroning
- uplifting
- enskying
- playing up
- idealizing
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
- decomposing
- disintegrating
- rotting
- decaying
- spoiling
- corrupting
- molding
- festering
- deteriorating
- polluting
- putrefying
- contaminating
- perishing
- rusting
- crumbling
- falling apart
- descending
- souring
- turning
- moldering
- breaking down
- running to seed
- defiling
- tainting
- fermenting
- curdling
- going to seed
- sinking
- degenerating
- mortifying
- declining
- addling
- turning off
- dilapidating
- withering
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- aging
- developing
- growing
- ageing
- ripening
- maturing
- cleansing
- purifying
- restoring
- improving
- renewing
- integrating
- assembling
- composing
- ameliorating
- refreshing
- meliorating
- bettering