foulness

[foul-nis]

noun

1. the state or quality of being foul.

   The foulness of the accusation incensed us all.

2. something that is foul; foul matter; filth.

3. wickedness.

foulness

¹

/ ˈfaʊlnɪs /

noun

1. the state or quality of being foul

2. obscenity; vulgarity

3. viciousness or inhumanity

4. foul matter; filth

Foulness

²

/ faʊlˈnɛs /

noun

1. a flat marshy island in SE England, in Essex north of the Thames estuary

Word History and Origins

Origin of foulness¹

before 1150; Middle English; Old English fūlnes. See foul, -ness

Example Sentences

In the decades since, though, the main charge against the show hasn’t been foulness so much as incoherence.

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The foulness is in the very air they breathe; they might choke if they thought about it.

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The foulness of these places, for the animals that live in them and the people who live near them, truly defies words.

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Chaus said Ukrainian forces have begun ridding the area of mines and clearing out the “foulness” left behind by the retreating Russians.

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How does she have time to throw such petty foulness into the town square?

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