afoul

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“It’s not that the courts are anti-Trump. In fact, he wins a lot. It’s really that he takes such an aggressive approach to policy making that he runs afoul of existing precedents.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

Air Canada has run afoul of its bilingualism mandate in the past.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Fox opened an investigation and concluded that Martin had run afoul of a rule of professional conduct that forbids attorneys from violating their oath of office, which includes a vow to support the U.S.

From Slate • Mar. 11, 2026

His publications were wildly popular, but he repeatedly ran afoul of Beijing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

It seems the boy is always running afoul of a pack of shamblers in the midst of his Missouri adventures, and the boy’s derring-do reminds me of my own exploits.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland