Another Word For Befouling

Meaning

The word "befouling" refers to the act of making something dirty, foul, or unclean. It often implies a sense of contamination or sullying, particularly in a moral or physical sense, such as polluting a body of water or tarnishing someone’s reputation.

Synonyms

• Polluting
• Contaminating
• Defiling
• Dirtying
• Smearing

Antonyms

• Cleansing
• Purifying
• Sanitizing
• Exalting
• Honoring

Etymology

The term "befouling" comes from the prefix "be-" meaning "to cause to be" and "foul", which has its origins in the Old English word "fūl," meaning "dirty" or "sordid." Thus, befouling literally means “to cause to be foul.”

Examples

1. The factory was fined for befouling the local river with toxic waste.
2. The children were warned not to befoul the playground with their trash.
3. The scandal befouled the politician's reputation, leading to public outrage.
4. Rainwater runoff had begun befouling the once pristine lake.
5. The environmental group worked tirelessly to prevent companies from befouling the ecosystem.