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
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Recent Examples of foul play
Miliband said the cause of the fire was not yet known, but that foul play was not suspected.
—
Leslie Josephs,monica Pitrelli,lucy Handley, CNBC, 21 Mar. 2025
Investigators from London’s Metropolitan police counter-terrorism unit are looking into the cause of the fire to rule out any sort of foul play, though so far indications are that the fire was most likely caused by a circuit malfunction.
—Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2025
There were no signs of foul play and officers are investigating the circumstances of her death, a police official told CNN last month.
Correction: A previous version of this story misidentified the time period Kim Soo Hyun had stayed quiet.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2025
Although the preliminary investigation reveals no signs of foul play, detectives from the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department’s are awaiting the autopsy results before reaching a final conclusion.
—Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foul play
Leslie Josephs,monica Pitrelli,lucy Handley, CNBC, 21 Mar. 2025
Investigators from London’s Metropolitan police counter-terrorism unit are looking into the cause of the fire to rule out any sort of foul play, though so far indications are that the fire was most likely caused by a circuit malfunction.
—Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2025
There were no signs of foul play and officers are investigating the circumstances of her death, a police official told CNN last month.
Correction: A previous version of this story misidentified the time period Kim Soo Hyun had stayed quiet.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2025
Although the preliminary investigation reveals no signs of foul play, detectives from the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department’s are awaiting the autopsy results before reaching a final conclusion.
—Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foul play
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foul play
Noun
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Monroe County Sheriff’s Office detectives are investigating the murder of a woman whose body was found stuffed into a closet Monday at a Florida Keys resort.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2025
-
The Menendez brothers were convicted in 1996 for the murder of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez.—
Jenny Goldsberry,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Their violence — in medieval bestiaries, unicorns are regularly said to have beef with elephants and take them down by goring their bellies — is contrasted with their gentleness towards maidens and innate understanding of purity.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
28 Mar. 2025
-
The bonfire of the Teslas: Political violence and the Left That will be a serious slog over the next three-plus years, with the Democratic brand in poor shape.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The sisters of a Northern California mother of four are seeking answers after her disappearance was recently ruled a homicide.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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The homicide investigation is the 24th of the year investigated by Oakland police.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Their relationship has been a rollercoaster—from matching blood vial necklaces to public breakups and reconciliations.—
Jenzia Burgos,
StyleCaster,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Lower Blood Sugar Cinnamon tea could lower blood sugar by working like insulin by reducing glucose in the blood.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The attack sparked outrage on social media, with politicians from the north condemning the killings.—
Dyepkazah Shibayan,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2025
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The Homicide Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the killing, police said.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foul play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foul%20play. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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