afoul
Tangled with something
Afoul appears almost exclusively in the phrase run afoul of, meaning to come into conflict or trouble with: He ran afoul of the law.
The word combines the prefix a- (in a state of) with foul, suggesting entanglement or collision.
Outside this fixed expression, afoul is rarely encountered.
Violent disagreement or collision
- collisionForceful contact between objects
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- altercationHeated verbal dispute
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
friction · discord · antagonism · hostility · strife · feud · contention · quarrel
Violation of rights
- breachBreaking of agreement
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- contraventionAct violating a rule
- infractionMinor rule breach
noncompliance · trespass · offense · wrongdoing · misconduct · illegality · rule-breaking · overstepping
clash
Violent disagreement or collision
- collisionForceful contact between objects
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- altercationHeated verbal dispute
confrontation · friction · discord · antagonism · hostility · strife · feud · contention · quarrel · skirmish
infringement
Violation of rights
- breachBreaking of agreement
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- contraventionAct violating a rule
infraction · noncompliance · trespass · offense · wrongdoing · misconduct · illegality · rule-breaking · overstepping · penalty
snarl
Hostile vocal threat
ensnared · enmeshed · trapped · bound up · ensnarled · knotted · webbed · mired · stuck · hooked
afouluntangled
Separated what was knotted
free · clear · disentangled · unobstructed · loose
afoulin accord
In mutual agreement
in harmony · aligned · in agreement · on good terms · in favor
afoulin harmony
In agreement together
within bounds · aboveboard · lawful · compliant · in good standing
- run afoul ofCome into conflict with
- run afoulViolate or conflict with
- ran afoul ofCame into conflict with
- running afoul ofViolating rules or expectations
foul, fouled, foulness, befoul, fouling, fouler, foulest, foully