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
Relevance
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
Examples 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 foul play
Bryar’s cause of death is currently under investigation, according to TMZ, but no foul play is suspected as all of his weapons were found untouched.
—
Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 2 Dec. 2024
Our intuitive bent toward honesty and justice has been destroyed by partisan antics and foul play.
—Armond White, National Review, 18 Dec. 2024
First responders were called to his home to perform a wellness check, and no evidence of foul play was found during the initial probe.
—Landon Mion, Fox News, 14 Dec. 2024
While no foul play is suspected, the incident remains under investigation.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for foul play 
Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 2 Dec. 2024
Our intuitive bent toward honesty and justice has been destroyed by partisan antics and foul play.
—Armond White, National Review, 18 Dec. 2024
First responders were called to his home to perform a wellness check, and no evidence of foul play was found during the initial probe.
—Landon Mion, Fox News, 14 Dec. 2024
While no foul play is suspected, the incident remains under investigation.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for foul play
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foul play
Noun
-
Relatives of some of the victims murdered by a serial killer known as Jack the Ripper have backed a call for the investigation to be reopened after new evidence emerged. Jack the Ripper, whose identity has never been confirmed, was linked to 11 murders between 1888 and 1892 in east London.Kirsty Hatcher, People.com, 14 Jan. 2025
-
The White House also sought to tackle transnational repression by issuing a travel ban on Saudi citizens connected to the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and by tasking federal agencies to reach out to diaspora communities across the United States.Sarah Yager, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The sharp increase in violence against transit and frontline workers forces people to decide between advocating for fare payment or ensuring personal safety for the matter of $2.90.Deborah Wathen Finn, New York Daily News, 15 Jan. 2025
-
Since the Hamas terror attacks of October 7, Canadian cities have been disgraced by anti-Semitic incidents of accelerating violence.David Frum, The Atlantic, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
For homicides, the biggest category is made up of individuals with previous violent criminal records, often associated with gangs, killing other criminals or members of gangs—or people who happen to be present during those shootings.John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025
-
But the family's independent autopsy concluded that homicide or staged suicide could not be ruled out, namely because the hyoid neck bone was missing from the body after it was sent to the family.ABC NEWS, ABC News, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Despite the gruesome killing, not a drop of blood was left behind.Alex Gurley, People.com, 15 Jan. 2025
-
The fish also contains selenium and vitamin B12, which are good for blood and nerve health.Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The highest-profile killings were the murders of Kayla Cuevas, 16, and Nisa Mickens, 15, in Brentwood on Sept. 13, 2016.Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 15 Jan. 2025
-
Willis appeared to have changed his stance over the years, first demanding Trump stop using the song in June 2020 after the then-president pledged to use military force to break up protests following the police killing of George Floyd.Conor Murray, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near foul play
Cite this Entry
“Foul play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foul%20play. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share