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.
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of foil
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
20 June 2026
Niger’s Defense Ministry said in a statement that the attack in Niamey was foiled and that 20 suspects were arrested along with weapons and ammunition.
—
Wilson McMakin,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Chris Snellgrove,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 June 2026
She is portrayed as a morally correct foil to Dexter, seeking to bring serial killers to justice through lawful means.
—
Jordana Rosenfeld,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for foil
Verb
Some storekeepers’ plans were foiled.
—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
20 June 2026
Niger’s Defense Ministry said in a statement that the attack in Niamey was foiled and that 20 suspects were arrested along with weapons and ammunition.
—
Wilson McMakin,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Noun
Such is true of Rick Hoffman's Louis Litt, a supervising attorney at the law firm and Harvey's narrative foil.
—
Chris Snellgrove,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 June 2026
She is portrayed as a morally correct foil to Dexter, seeking to bring serial killers to justice through lawful means.
—
Jordana Rosenfeld,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for foil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foil
Verb
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Trump’s rogue moves have frustrated Thune’s party regularly over the past two months.
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David Rubenstein, the son of a Baltimore postal worker, was frustrated in a Washington law firm when he was both inspired by a wildly successful leveraged buyout and unnerved by a book that claimed the odds of successfully starting a company plummets after 37.
Noun
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By contrast, retirees enjoy a financial edge in such states as Minnesota, Utah and Colorado, where residents enjoy high retirement income and expenses that are relatively manageable.
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In contrast, the living room offers a calmer palette of sky blues and earthy browns.
Verb
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In the 31st minute, Morocco's Achraf Hakimi received the ball downfield in front of the box but was thwarted by Haiti's goalkeeper Johny Placide.
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Starmer’s attempt to tackle Britain’s spiralling benefits bill was thwarted by his own MPs.
Noun
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Her haircut, soft and voluminous, is a perfect complement for her hat—this time in a celestial shade—and her lips, painted in a mauve hue.
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Forenza doesn't think the tech should replace a traditional therapist, but a device behind your ear giving you a heads up to take a deep breath might work as a complement.
Verb
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In the sixth inning, Jasson Domínguez battled Skubal for eight pitches, surviving against the stuff that baffled him earlier in the game.
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His mother, Ahmani Hicks, describes him as a kid who loved sports, and she's baffled as to why her son was targeted.
Noun
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May lower blood sugar when taken in a supplement form.
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The modern wellness industry, however, thrives on the idea that healthy aging requires constant, obsessive measurement and optimization through supplements, wearable devices, expensive scans, or influencers promising to unlock the secret to longevity.
Verb
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Brown was hampered by a back injury in college, but that wasn’t enough to scare away the Nets.
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Investors are advised to avoid ASA, as its future performance appears hampered by both gold's current stagnation and management issues.
Noun
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For quieter moments, the bedrooms offer a calmer counterpoint, including one rendered in soothing blue tones with views over the lush greenery surrounding the home.
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For all their confidence that progressive Christianity won’t play in red states, however, Warnock serves as a powerful counterpoint.
Cite this Entry
“Foil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foil. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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