Definition

1. Noun:
   • The quality of having a very unpleasant or offensive smell: The state or characteristic of being foul-smelling.
   • Extreme dirtiness or filth: A state characterized by disgusting dirt, waste, or pollution.
   • Extreme moral wickedness or obscenity: Disgusting immorality, evil, or the quality of being profoundly offensive in a moral sense.
   • The badness or unpleasantness of weather: (Archaic/Literary) The state of being stormy, rainy, or otherwise inclement and disagreeable.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The foulness of the stagnant water made it impossible to stay near the pond. (The extremely bad smell of the water was unbearable.)
  • They were shocked by the foulness of the streets, littered with garbage. (They were shocked by the extreme filth and dirt.)
  • The novel explores the foulness of the villain's deeds. (The novel examines the profound moral wickedness of the villain's actions.)
  • The foulness of the language used in the argument was unacceptable. (The obscene and offensive nature of the words was not acceptable.)

Advanced Usage

• "the foulness of the air": Refers to air that is heavily polluted or putrid.
  • The foulness of the air in the industrial town was a major health concern.
• "to recoil at the foulness of": To draw back in disgust from something due to its extreme unpleasantness (smell, appearance, or moral nature).
  • She recoiled at the foulness of the accusation.

Variants and Related Words

• Foul (adj/verb): The root word meaning very unpleasant, dirty, or morally offensive. As a verb, it means to make dirty or to commit a foul in sports.
• Foully (adv): In a wicked or obscene manner.
  • He was foully murdered.

Synonyms

• Stench: A strong and very unpleasant smell.
• Filth: Disgusting dirt or grime.
• Wickedness: The quality of being evil or morally wrong.
• Obscenity: The state of being offensive to morality or decency; lewdness.
• Putridity: The state of being rotten and smelling bad.

Related Phrases

• "Foulness of heart": (Literary) A state of deep moral corruption or evil intentions.
  • The tale is a warning about the foulness of heart that greed can bring.
• "Foulness of mouth": The use of obscene, abusive, or profane language.
  • He was known for the foulness of his mouth when he was angry.

Noun

1. the attribute of having a strong offensive smell
2. (of weather) the badness of the weather
   • they were wearied with the foulness of the weather
3. a state characterized by foul or disgusting dirt and refuse
4. disgusting wickedness and immorality
   • he understood the foulness of sin
   • his display of foulness deserved severe punishment
   • mouths which speak such foulness must be cleansed