Befouled — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /bi-ˈfau̇(-ə)l/ be·foul

Meaning & Definition of Befouled

Befouled (verb)

  1. to make foul (as with dirt or waste)
  2. sully, soil, besmirch

Befouled (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not clean

    "given the task of cleaning the animals' befouled pens"

    similar: bedraggled, begrimed, bemired, besmirched, black, blackened, cruddy, dingy, dirty, draggled, dusty, filthy, foul, grimy, grotty (chiefly British), grubby, grungy, mucky, muddy, nasty, smudged, smutty, soiled, sordid, stained, sullied, unclean, uncleanly
    related: contaminated, defiled, germy, impure, polluted, tainted, insanitary, uncleaned, unsanitary, unsterile, unsterilized, unwashed, greasy, gunky, chaotic, cluttered, confused, disarranged, disarrayed, disheveled, disordered, jumbled, littered, messed, messy, muddled, mussed, mussy, rumpled, scruffy, sloppy, slovenly, unkempt, untidy, raunchy, scuzzy (slang), shabby, skanky (slang), sleazy, squalid, collied (chiefly British dialect), crocked (dialect), fuliginous, sooty
    opposite: clean, cleanly, immaculate, spick-and-span, spotless, stainless, ultraclean, unsoiled, unstained, unsullied
    near: clear, limpid, pure, cleaned, cleansed, combed, groomed, neat, ordered, orderly, tidy, bleached, purified, whitened, bright, flawless, perfect, shiny, sparkling, unspotted, untouched, taintless, unblemished, undefiled, unpolluted, untainted, virgin, wholesome

Befouled (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make dirty

    "unsightly mud and slush befouls the family car every winter"

    similar: begrimed, bemired, besmirched, blackened, daubed, dirtied, distained (archaic), fouled, gaumed (dialect), grimed, mired, mucked, muddied, smirched, smudged, soiled, stained, sullied
    related: contaminated, defiled, polluted, tainted, discolored, confused, disarranged, disarrayed, disheveled, disordered, draggled, jumbled, messed, muddled, collied (chiefly British dialect), crocked (dialect)
    opposite: cleaned, cleansed
    near: decontaminated, purged, purified, disinfected, sanitized, brushed, dry-cleaned, dusted, laundered, mopped, rinsed, scoured, scrubbed, swept, washed, wiped, brightened, deodorized, freshened, renewed, spruced (up), straightened (up), tidied (up)

  2. to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable

    "the enemy had befouled the water in all of the area's wells with animal carcasses"

    similar: contaminated, defiled, fouled, poisoned, polluted, tainted
    related: infected, begrimed, besmirched, blackened, dirtied, fouled up, grimed, mired, muddied, smirched, smudged, soiled, stained, sullied, corrupted, rotted, spoiled, adulterated, doctored, diluted, watered down
    opposite: decontaminated, purified
    near: clarified, cleaned, cleansed, cleared, distilled, purged, filtered, disinfected, sanitized, sterilized

Related Entry: Befoul (verb)

Befoul is a different word from Befouled. The synonyms below are for befoul, not for befouled.

  1. to make dirty

    "unsightly mud and slush befouls the family car every winter"

    similar: begrime, bemire, besmirch, blacken, daub, dirty, distain (archaic), foul, gaum (dialect), grime, mire, muck, muddy, smirch, smudge, soil, stain, sully
    related: contaminate, defile, pollute, taint, discolor, confuse, disarrange, disarray, dishevel, disorder, draggle, jumble, mess, muddle, colly (chiefly British dialect), crock (dialect)
    opposite: clean, cleanse
    near: decontaminate, purge, purify, disinfect, sanitize, brush, dry-clean, dust, launder, mop, rinse, scour, scrub, sweep, wash, wipe, brighten, deodorize, freshen, renew, spruce (up), straighten (up), tidy (up)

  2. to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable

    "the enemy had befouled the water in all of the area's wells with animal carcasses"

    similar: contaminate, defile, foul, poison, pollute, taint
    related: infect, begrime, besmirch, blacken, dirty, foul up, grime, mire, muddy, smirch, smudge, soil, stain, sully, corrupt, rot, spoil, adulterate, doctor, dilute, water down
    opposite: decontaminate, purify
    near: clarify, clean, cleanse, clear, distill, purge, filter, disinfect, sanitize, sterilize

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Befouled

The most common words with a similar meaning to Befouled:

Chiefly British: grotty
Archaic: distained
Dialect: gaumed
bedraggled, begrimed, bemired, besmirched, black, blackened, cruddy, dingy, dirty, draggled, dusty, filthy, foul, grimy, grubby, grungy, mucky, muddy, nasty, smudged, smutty, soiled, sordid, stained, sullied, unclean, uncleanly, daubed, dirtied, fouled, grimed, mired, mucked, muddied, smirched, contaminated, defiled, poisoned, polluted, tainted

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Befouled

Words with the opposite meaning of Befouled:

clean, cleanly, immaculate, spick-and-span, spotless, stainless, ultraclean, unsoiled, unstained, unsullied, cleaned, cleansed, decontaminated, purified

Related Words for Befouled

germy, impure, insanitary, uncleaned, unsanitary, unsterile, unsterilized, unwashed, greasy, gunky, chaotic, cluttered, confused, disarranged, disarrayed, disheveled, disordered, jumbled, littered, messed, messy, muddled, mussed, mussy, rumpled, scruffy, sloppy, slovenly, unkempt, untidy

Near Antonyms of Befouled

clear, limpid, pure, combed, groomed, neat, ordered, orderly, tidy, bleached, whitened, bright, flawless, perfect, shiny, sparkling, unspotted, untouched, taintless, unblemished, undefiled, unpolluted, untainted, virgin, wholesome, purged, disinfected, sanitized, brushed, dry-cleaned

Word Forms of Befouled

Inflections: befouling, befouls

Origin & Etymology of Befouled

First known use: 12th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Befouled

What does "Befouled" mean?

"Befouled" means to make foul (as with dirt or waste). As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to make foul (as with dirt or waste). It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Befouled"?

Other words for "Befouled" include bedraggled, begrimed, bemired, besmirched, black, blackened, cruddy and dingy. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Befouled" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Befouled"?

There are 93 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Befouled". Common alternatives include bedraggled, begrimed, bemired, besmirched, black, blackened, cruddy, dingy, dirty and draggled.

What is the opposite of "Befouled"?

Antonyms of "Befouled" include clean, cleanly, immaculate, spick-and-span, spotless, stainless, ultraclean and unsoiled. Near antonyms include clear, limpid, pure and combed.

How do you use "Befouled" in a sentence?

Examples of "Befouled" in a sentence: "given the task of cleaning the animals' befouled pens"; "unsightly mud and slush befouls the family car every winter"; "the enemy had befouled the water in all of the area's wells with animal carcasses".

Is "Befouled" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Befouled" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Befouled"?

"Befouled" is pronounced /bi-ˈfau̇(-ə)l/ and divided into syllables as be·foul.

What is the origin of the word "Befouled"?

First known use: 12th century.