befoul
UK: bɪˈfaʊl | US: bɪˈfaʊl
vt. to make dirty or polluted; to soil or defile
vt. to tarnish morally or reputationally
The word "befoul" combines the Old English prefix "be-" (intensifying or covering completely) with "foul," derived from Old English "fūl" (dirty, rotten). The prefix "be-" often adds a sense of thoroughness or negative transformation (e.g., "befriend," "bewilder"). "Foul" traces back to Proto-Germanic "*fūlaz," linked to decay or filth. Together, "befoul" vividly conveys the act of making something utterly unclean, physically or metaphorically.
The factory waste befouled the river, killing aquatic life.
His lies befouled his reputation in the community.
The vandal befouled the statue with graffiti.
Political scandals often befoul public trust.
Don’t befoul the kitchen with your muddy shoes.