Foul
Foul adjective - Not being in accordance with the rules or standards of what is fair in sport.
Usage example: an aggressive hockey player who is known for his foul play and readiness for a fight
Unfair is a synonym for foul in behaviour topic. In some cases you can use "Unfair" instead an adjective "Foul", when it comes to topics like corrupt. popular alternative
Unfair
Unfair adjective - Not being in accordance with the rules or standards of what is fair in sport.
Usage example: a team that is notorious throughout the league for its record of unfair play
Foul is a synonym for unfair in behaviour topic. You can use "Foul" instead the word "Unfair" as an adjective or a noun, if it concerns topics such as prejudiced, unsporting. popular alternative
Nearby Words: unfairness, unfairly
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
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The unfair defeat of the English is attributed in part to Scottish knights' "foul riding," exemplified by the Bruce blindsiding "Henry le Bohunk" in an exhibition combat before the battle.
Source: Useful Notes / Robert The Bruce - However, "unfair shoving or pushing" of an opponent out gets the pusher a foul.
Source: Ring Out -
The palpably unfair act penalty was created for instances when the team committing the foul would gain such an extreme advantage that the standard yardage penalty would be insufficient to deter such behavior.
Source: Useful Notes / American Football
Cite this Source
Unfair and Foul. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/foul/unfair
Foul & Unfair. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/foul/unfair>.
Unfair or Foul. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/foul/unfair.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "foul" and "unfair" have occurred on timeline