as in weaknesses
a defect in character
could tolerate my uncle's foibles because we loved him dearly
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Recent Examples of foibles
Each of their characters has their foibles but neither ever leans unlikable.
—
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 5 June 2026
Rue descends into crime, working with Nazis, the feds, and a Black cowboy in a drug plot that stems from her adolescent foibles with monotone drug dealer Laurie (Martha Kelly).
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 29 May 2026
Assayas offers anecdotes, a feuilleton of tyranny in which the foibles of the mighty and the ruthless reveal the sentimental side of cruelty, the amusement value of ugly deeds, and the polite side of monstrous ideas.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 May 2026
The British sketch comedy troupe Monty Python loved taking aim at contemporary foibles through its twisted and liberal reading of history.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 29 Apr. 2026
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, literature will outlast the foibles of misguided mortals.
—Charlie Tyson, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Lindsay-Abaire, who has a fondness for a good turn of phrase and an ear for the foibles of the tristate suburbs (both figuring in his Kimberly Akimbo), has said he was inspired in part by following his own neighborhood’s Google group, which had vicious fights about drainage systems.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2026
Munson is a terrific burst of fresh air, enlivening the coach car with humor built from relationship foibles.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026
Mostly gone are the staff’s personal foibles and follies, but vanished, too, is the post-COVID-19 despair that hung over the inaugural episodes like an aerosol haze.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 5 June 2026
Rue descends into crime, working with Nazis, the feds, and a Black cowboy in a drug plot that stems from her adolescent foibles with monotone drug dealer Laurie (Martha Kelly).
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 29 May 2026
Assayas offers anecdotes, a feuilleton of tyranny in which the foibles of the mighty and the ruthless reveal the sentimental side of cruelty, the amusement value of ugly deeds, and the polite side of monstrous ideas.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 May 2026
The British sketch comedy troupe Monty Python loved taking aim at contemporary foibles through its twisted and liberal reading of history.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 29 Apr. 2026
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, literature will outlast the foibles of misguided mortals.
—Charlie Tyson, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Lindsay-Abaire, who has a fondness for a good turn of phrase and an ear for the foibles of the tristate suburbs (both figuring in his Kimberly Akimbo), has said he was inspired in part by following his own neighborhood’s Google group, which had vicious fights about drainage systems.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2026
Munson is a terrific burst of fresh air, enlivening the coach car with humor built from relationship foibles.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026
Mostly gone are the staff’s personal foibles and follies, but vanished, too, is the post-COVID-19 despair that hung over the inaugural episodes like an aerosol haze.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foibles
Noun
-
Bedoya offers insights on this year’s biggest contenders, plus gives his favorites, sleepers and a look at Team USA’s strengths and weaknesses heading into the Cup.—
Andre Fernandez,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
-
The note, which was published by Xbox on Xbox Wire, does not address potential layoffs but instead focuses on specific weaknesses within the division, including a 3% accountability margin for the fiscal year.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
California has over 500 active faults, but scientists cannot predict when earthquakes will occur.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
-
For all his faults, Beckham was named one of the top 100 Giants players of all time by an independent committee, according to the team.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
In all these books, animals serve as mirrors, reflecting our personal and societal shortcomings and shame, our hubris, anxiety, and moral failings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
The North Korean players’ physical aptitude was clear, but coaches were aware of their technical and tactical shortcomings.—
Andrew McNicol,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
These days, most red-letter sins in NCAA sports come in gray, and more often invisible ink.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 June 2026
-
The length exacerbates all the rest of the series' sins, including a lack of emotional depth, gratuitous suffering and violence, long stretches of boring, listless plotting and extraneous characters.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foibles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foibles. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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