befouled
Rendered grossly unclean
Befouled means made foul or dirty—contaminated, polluted, or defiled.
The word carries a stronger sense of disgust than simply dirtied: The oil spill befouled miles of coastline.
It often appears in contexts of environmental damage or moral corruption: a reputation befouled by scandal.
Ingrained surface dirt
sullied · smudged · grimy · unclean · dingy · greasy · smeared · discolored
Made foul or impure
- taintedContaminated, made impure
- corruptedMade impure or dishonest
- degradedReduced in rank or quality
- dishonoredBrought shame upon
disgraced · blemished · tarnished · desecrated · profaned · debased · violated · sullied
Made impure by contact
- toxicCapable of causing harm
- pollutedMade impure by contaminants
- effluentDischarged liquid waste
- sewageLiquid refuse in drains
oil spill · industrial waste · runoff · chemical spill · smog · pesticides · heavy metals · radioactive
grime
Ingrained surface dirt
muddy · sullied · smudged · grimy · unclean · dingy · greasy · smeared · discolored · unsanitary
defiled
Made foul or impure
dishonored · disgraced · blemished · tarnished · desecrated · profaned · debased · violated · sullied · stained
contaminated
Made impure by contact
sewage · oil spill · industrial waste · runoff · chemical spill · smog · pesticides · heavy metals · radioactive · landfill