Befouled

The past participle of the verb "befoul", meaning to make something dirty or polluted; to spoil or sully. This implies the addition of something unpleasant or unwanted, such as excrement, filth, or noxious substances. Figuratively, it can also describe the corruption or degradation of something pure, such as one's reputation or a pristine environment. The impact is to diminish the original quality, rendering it tainted or marred in some significant way. This can be applied to both physical and abstract concepts.

Befouled meaning with examples

• The heavy rains caused the river to overflow its banks, befouled with sewage and industrial runoff, leaving a toxic residue on the surrounding fields and polluting the wells. The authorities issued a health warning, urging residents to boil their water.
• The political scandal befouled the senator's reputation beyond repair; the evidence of corruption and illicit activities made it impossible for him to regain the trust of the voters, and his political career crumbled.
• Years of neglect and vandalism had befouled the once-beautiful park, leaving it littered with trash and graffiti. The city council finally decided to invest in its renovation, hoping to restore the park to its former glory.
• The artist’s studio, once a sanctuary of creativity, was now befouled with clutter, stale paint fumes, and half-finished projects, making it a difficult place for the artist to focus or find inspiration.
• The constant barrage of online hate speech befouled the online forums, creating a hostile environment where constructive dialogue and civil discussion became virtually impossible to sustain.