foulness

F4O1U1L1N1E1S1S1
UK/ˈfaʊəl.nəs/UK/ˈfaʊl̩.nəs/UK/faʊlˈnɛs/

noun

The state of being foul.

Similar
filthfilthinessnastinessraininessmalodorousnessstinkinessranknessfetidness
OriginMiddle English foulnesse ← Old English fūlnes →
RareScrabble 11
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Meanings

foulness1

nounfoulness (countable and uncountable, plural foulnesses)

plural foulnesses

  1. countableuncountableThe state of being foul.

Foulness2

proper noun

alternative Foulness Island

  1. An island on the east coast of Essex where the Thames estuary joins the North Sea.
  2. A civil parish (served by Foulness Island Parish Council) in Rochford district, Essex.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna state characterized by foul or disgusting dirt and refuse

Similar
filthfilthinessnastiness
Broader
unsanitariness

noun(of weather) the badness of the weather

Similar
raininess
Broader
badnessseveritysevereness

nounthe attribute of having a strong offensive smell

Similar
malodorousnessstinkinessranknessfetidness
Broader
olfactory propertysmellaroma
Also see
fetidnessfilthfilthinessmalodorousnessnastinessraininessranknesssqualorstinkiness

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Old Englishfūlnes“foulness”
  2. Middle Englishfoulnesse
  3. Englishfoulness

From Middle English foulnesse, foulnes, from Old English fūlnes (“foulness”), equivalent to foul + -ness. Compare Dutch vuilnis (“rubbish; garbage; trash”).

More words from Middle English, Old English

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek ψόθος
  • ψόθος (psóthos)state of being foul
Latin foeditās
  • foeditāsstate of being foul

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with foulness

saddressaccesspressprocessyeslessexpresssuccessunlesscongressguessdressstressexcessSMSassesschessmessblesspossessdistressnessWes
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

foulness. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/foulness

MLA

“foulness.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/foulness. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “foulness,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/foulness.

Source: foulness on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.