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Glite Dictionary
💧 Dirty or polluted ⚓ Entangled or stuck
fouled

fouled

7.5
Tangled and caught so it cannot move, usually for ropes or anchors
  • adjective
  • /faʊld/
  • Jargon
translation icon : enredado
  • Divers were sent down to clear the fouled propeller before the vessel could proceed.

Examples

  • The crew worked quickly to free the fouled anchor from the seaweed.

  • A fouled line delayed the departure of the fishing boat.

  • The fouled anchor made it difficult to set sail.

  • After the storm, we found the ropes fouled together.

  • A fouled line delayed the departure of the fishing boat.

  • The crew worked quickly to free the fouled anchor from the seaweed.

  • After the storm, we found the ropes fouled together.

Synonyms

foul
vsfouled
  • Specialized
1 8.2

Twisted and caught so ropes or anchors do not move freely

is the adjective form describing the same stuck nautical condition
afoul
vsfouled
9.9

Tangled, or in trouble because of a conflict, often said of ropes on a ship

focuses on being physically caught and blocking movement rather than conflict

Antonyms

free
∞ 1.0

Able to act as you want without limits

uncluttered
5 4.0

Free of extra things and distractions, simple and tidy

How Entangled

stuck
∞ 1.0
fouled
  • Jargon
7.5
tangled
7 3.3
to snag
2 3.6

Surface Forms

fouled positive

Morphology

fouled = foul (semi-transparent) = foul + ed

Formed from 'foul' + '-ed', but the nautical sense 'entangled/obstructed' may not be obvious to learners who only know 'foul' as 'dirty'.

Etymology

The word fouled also comes from foul in the sense 'caught' or 'tangled', especially at sea, so a fouled line, anchor, or propeller is wrapped up or stuck and cannot move.