as in contrasts
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
as in frustrates
to prevent from achieving a goal
in popular fiction the hero will always foil the villain's plans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of foils
Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 24 Apr. 2026
Foiling yachts typically run software that adjusts the foils hundreds of times a second to maintain safe, level flight.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2026
Since their roof scene in season, Abbot and Noah Wyle’s character have been set up as foils to each other.
—Wisdom Iheanyichukwu, Vanity Fair, 17 Apr. 2026
The young cast is led by Chase Infiniti and Lucy Halliday, whose characters start out as foils but come to find common ground.
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Highlights use foils to separate hair sections, making the overall look brighter.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2026
But more than a few of the pandemic's gray-pride cohort have returned to a life of foils, ammonia, and root touchups.
—Valerie Monroe, Allure, 25 Mar. 2026
Even San Francisco, long known for its tolerant drug laws, recently rolled back a program that distributed foils and pipes in an effort to encourage smoking over injection.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
The metal could appear in oversized zippers, shiny buttons, bold belt buckles or as metallic coatings and foils.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 21 Jan. 2026
Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
Few passengers can show original receipts, which foils their claim.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026
So give a warm welcome to The Life of a Showgirl, Swift’s 12th studio album, which foils The Tortured Poets Department in a few major ways.
—Jaeden Pinder, Pitchfork, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
Plus, unlike traditional methods of coloring panels that often use 'diffusing foils' that scatter light everywhere and cause power losses of up to 50%, MorphoColor uses a precise 3D photonic structure on the glass surface designed specifically for high transmission.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 24 Apr. 2026
Foiling yachts typically run software that adjusts the foils hundreds of times a second to maintain safe, level flight.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2026
Since their roof scene in season, Abbot and Noah Wyle’s character have been set up as foils to each other.
—Wisdom Iheanyichukwu, Vanity Fair, 17 Apr. 2026
The young cast is led by Chase Infiniti and Lucy Halliday, whose characters start out as foils but come to find common ground.
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Highlights use foils to separate hair sections, making the overall look brighter.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2026
But more than a few of the pandemic's gray-pride cohort have returned to a life of foils, ammonia, and root touchups.
—Valerie Monroe, Allure, 25 Mar. 2026
Even San Francisco, long known for its tolerant drug laws, recently rolled back a program that distributed foils and pipes in an effort to encourage smoking over injection.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
The metal could appear in oversized zippers, shiny buttons, bold belt buckles or as metallic coatings and foils.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
At their elite school the students play a game like soccer during which the boys have the ball, but the witches can interfere by using their powers to make the field icy or create a wind that foils the opposition team.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
Few passengers can show original receipts, which foils their claim.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026
So give a warm welcome to The Life of a Showgirl, Swift’s 12th studio album, which foils The Tortured Poets Department in a few major ways.
—Jaeden Pinder, Pitchfork, 3 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foils
Verb
-
When the cityscape frustrates urban photographers with uneven terrain or limited spaces, photographic gear company Silence Corner strikes back with the Viperpod – a hybrid tripod designed to hang anywhere in seconds for unencumbered solo shooting.—
Shirl Leigh
May 06,
New Atlas,
6 May 2026
-
What frustrates me is that the Board has invoked emergency powers for rent policy while failing to declare an actual public health emergency for unsheltered homelessness — the one domain where the legal, moral, and practical case is overwhelming.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Other interventions, like non-surgical or surgical skin tightening procedures, can be helpful complements, too.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Best of all, these eclectic complements come in all shapes and sizes—from modern designs by contemporary artists and local artisans to collectible porcelains resold by vintage dealers.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Duncan's supporters say the attempt by a majority white conservative Legislature to eliminate Duncan's job thwarts the will of voters in New Orleans, a predominantly Black Democratic hub in a red state.—
JACK BROOK,
ABC News,
4 May 2026
-
Sam Houston comeback thwarts Irving Arlington Sam Houston scored three unanswered goals after trailing 2-0 in the first half against Irving on Friday night.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The agency oversees supplements according to the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, which classifies the products as food rather than as drugs and largely allows the marketing to be left up to the companies.—
Laya Neelakandan,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
-
For the last referendum, passed in 2022, teachers got supplements ranging from $500 to $12,000.—
Scott Travis,
Sun Sentinel,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 May 2026
-
Electronics are susceptible to temperature changes, and any dust that blocks outward air vents or hampers fresh air flow into the machine can cause real damage.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This baffles and outrages Angela, a protective mom who, with other parents, pushes back against Gabor using her math classroom as a forum for introducing the outside world’s worst actions.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
7 Apr. 2026
-
His disaffection baffles his acquaintances and pains his tubercular wife (a superb Quinn Jackson), whose doctor (Lambert Tamin) has only contempt for her husband’s agonizing.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This time, though, he's already somewhat sidelined by the introduction of Johnny Cage (Karl Urban), and then he's stunningly killed during a fight with Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford), who defeats him and crushes his head.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
-
Over-spraying leads to streaks, which defeats the entire purpose.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foils. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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