as in to frustrate
to prevent from achieving a goal
in popular fiction the hero will always foil the villain's plans
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in contrast
something or someone that is different from another especially in a pleasing way
This cool, refreshing salad is the perfect foil for spicy foods.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of foil
Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2025
That outlet would have offered all three companies’ sports line-ups, but was foiled by legal challenges, leaving all three backers to pursue their own strategies.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 4 Feb. 2025
Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 19 Mar. 2025
Zack as the troublemaker and Cody as the rules-follower made for a great comedic foil, and the combination made stars out of Dylan and Cole Sprouse.
—Skyler Trepel, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foil
Verb
Small golden tomatoes that grow swiftly enough to foil worms (some of them, anyway).
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2025
That outlet would have offered all three companies’ sports line-ups, but was foiled by legal challenges, leaving all three backers to pursue their own strategies.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 4 Feb. 2025
Noun
Kreuk’s Cassandra Lee is a local librarian who became Karl’s muse, foil and romantic interest.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 19 Mar. 2025
Zack as the troublemaker and Cody as the rules-follower made for a great comedic foil, and the combination made stars out of Dylan and Cole Sprouse.
—Skyler Trepel, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foil
Verb
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In battle royale games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty: Warzone, death is an immediate elimination, which can frustrate streamers trying to get exciting footage for their viewers — and there’s nothing more exciting than a win.—
Alyssa Mercante,
Rolling Stone,
20 Mar. 2025
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Any armchair sleuths hoping to test their clue-cracking skills will be left similarly frustrated by the fact breadcrumbs are practically non-existent throughout.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The Frick, by contrast, seems totally unaffected by the upheaval of the past five years, with neither of those things to boast.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
26 Mar. 2025
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By contrast, Dreams Inc. largely sells its toys online or through distributors like Kiddy Land, Kinokuniya, and Urban Outfitters.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Extradition of the pair is the latest in federal efforts to thwart smuggling on the high seas.—
Michael Loria,
USA TODAY,
20 Mar. 2025
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Bolden had played a key role in thwarting an assassination plot in Chicago months before JFK was tragically assassinated in Dallas.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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That the hosts ended the afternoon with a full complement of players will no doubt have vexed Stockport on their trip back across the border after James McClean was fortunate to see yellow rather than red for a crude first-half challenge on Hills.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
The Athletic,
23 Mar. 2025
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Its flight deck can support a complement of two Black Hawk or Seahawk helicopters.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Most were baffled at the fact the eggs still contained actual egg.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Mar. 2025
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However, she’s baffled at why social media activity may have contributed to the arrest.—
Polo Sandoval,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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To mitigate this, teams should use AI as a supplement (not a replacement), enforce manual coding challenges, conduct thorough code reviews and prioritize continuous learning.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
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But the supplement is mostly a supportive treatment in children with vitamin deficiencies, and taking too much can cause toxicity.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Frederiksen said that other European nations are also on Denmark's side in this back-and-forth with Trump, already hampering the ties between the U.S. and its allies since Trump regained office.—
Ivan Pereira,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2025
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The job cuts might hamper the FDA's ability to tackle cutting-edge issues such as the use of artificial intelligence or making the nation's food supply safer and more nutritious, said Peter Pitts, a former FDA associate commissioner.—
Ken Alltucker,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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This woven rattan side table is generously sized and provides a nice textural counterpoint to the other furniture.—
Monika Biegler Eyers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Mar. 2025
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In an attempt to launch his counterpoint, O’Leary began animatedly gesturing and was abruptly confronted.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foil. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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