afoul
/əˈfaʊl/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 2.63 in modern English
8
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
adv
In a state of entanglement or conflict (with).
Example Sentences
- "The ships’ lines and sails were all afoul."
- "After paying out chain, we swung clear, but our anchors were no doubt afoul of hers."
- "1849, William F. Lynch, The Naval Officer, Chapter 2, in Graham’s Magazine, Volume 34, Number 3, March 1849, The atmosphere was soon thick and stifling, and the crews were working their guns with the energy of desperation, when a severe concussion, followed by a harsh and grating sound, told that the ships were afoul."
- "He had a knack for running afoul of the law."
- "What the devil’s the matter with me? I don’t stand right on my legs. Coming afoul of that old man has a sort of turned me wrong side out."
- "A hemispheric axiom has it that when a dictator falls afoul of Washington, his opponents are emboldened to try to topple him."
Etymology
From a- + foul.
Word Breakdown
Usage
Inflected Forms
more afoul (comparative)
most afoul (superlative)