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
Jason Bailey, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
On July 28, 2022, this murder-for-hire scheme involving Russian mobsters and the Iranian regime targeting a defiant dissident was foiled in Brooklyn.
—Katrina Kaufman, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2025
Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 7 Apr. 2025
Turner's official Fencing Tracker page shows 21 podium finishes, including a gold medal in women's foil at an event called the Trick or Retreat ROC Aug. 18 in Edison, New Jersey.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foil
Verb
Sandra Bullock crafts one of her most physically inventive performances — all thrown elbows and twisted ankles — as Gracie Hart, a messy and clumsy yet brilliant F.B.I. Special Agent who must go undercover as a beauty pageant contestant to foil a terrorist plot.
—Jason Bailey, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
On July 28, 2022, this murder-for-hire scheme involving Russian mobsters and the Iranian regime targeting a defiant dissident was foiled in Brooklyn.
—Katrina Kaufman, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2025
Noun
Trump and his allies have so far stood by Musk, who has emerged as Democrats’ main foil amid sweeping anger over federal cuts made under his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 7 Apr. 2025
Turner's official Fencing Tracker page shows 21 podium finishes, including a gold medal in women's foil at an event called the Trick or Retreat ROC Aug. 18 in Edison, New Jersey.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foil
Verb
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Although so highly esteemed, the notoriously taciturn director would often frustrate his colleagues by his reticence to explain his directorial intentions.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
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The team settled on a patient with SD Autism Spectrum disorder who had an ankle sprain but frustrated Dr. Langdon (Patrick Ball) with his endless questions.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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By contrast, Lyon have progressed from their previous 11 semi-finals in this competition, going on to win eight of the resulting finals.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
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By contrast, the lab origin hypothesis largely relies on the proximity of a research lab to the first cases, conjecture, and distrust of the Chinese government, which has not been forthcoming with information on the early days of the health crisis.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Our favorite bike locks for every ride, including new locks designed to thwart angle grinders.—
Scott Gilbertson,
Wired News,
9 Apr. 2025
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Tanya and Greg were Season 2’s returning characters, and the season ended with Tanya accidentally dying while trying to thwart a murder plot, apparently arranged by Greg’s associates.—
Noel Murray,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
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As Swansea looks to cement itself as the country’s dominant force, whether Modric—a European who’s experienced English soccer at Tottenham Hotspur—complements or disrupts the U.S. owners’ thinking will be fascinating.—
Henry Flynn,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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The springtime complement to Halloween Horror Nights, Fan Fest Nights focuses on theme park theatrics and sci-fi, gaming and anime rather than horror.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Two endangered whales are baffling researchers by continuing to show up along a stretch of U.S coast that is not part of their turf, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2025
-
President Donald Trump’s mass tariffs have baffled Americans, creating uncertainty for the average consumer, according to industry leaders.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Choosing the best magnesium supplement for you depends on your reasons for taking it and your overall health goals.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Verywell Health,
16 Apr. 2025
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The benefits of brewer’s yeast have been known for millennia and rival hair-growing supplements like biotin and folic acid.—
Beatrice Zocchi,
Vogue,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Aly Song | Reuters Trump's tariffs on China are already hampering Christmas sales.—
Dan Mangan,Kevin Breuninger,Jeff Cox,Christina Wilkie,Erin Doherty,Ruxandra Iordache,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2025
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The deep budget cuts at HHS have also hampered the nation’s disease-detection capacity and pandemic preparedness with respect to pathogens such as bird flu, according to experts.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 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 23 Apr. 2025.
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