Synonyms of foils

foils 1 of 2

noun

plural of foil

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.

Related Words

• contrasts
• complements
• supplements
• counterpoints
• correlates
• counters
• mirror images
• antonyms
• negations
• antitheses
• opposites
• inverses
• antipodes
• converses
• contraries
• negatives
• reverses
• obverses

Dissimilar Words

• synonyms
• counterparts
• analogues
• copies
• duplicates
• replicas
• carbon copies

foils

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of foil

as in frustrates

to prevent from achieving a goal

in popular fiction the hero will always foil the villain's plans

Synonyms & Similar Words

• frustrates
• thwarts
• hampers
• baffles
• defeats
• stops
• prevents
• balks
• beats
• hinders
• blocks
• overcomes
• checkmates
• arrests
• halts
• impedes
• discomfits
• handicaps
• bars
• stalls
• obstructs
• short-circuits
• checks
• interferes (with)
• inhibits
• holds back
• precludes
• forestalls
• obviates
• ties up
• hobbles
• clogs
• encumbers
• neutralizes
• fetters
• offsets
• averts
• shackles
• nullifies
• trammels
• conquers
• counteracts
• sets back
• negates
• manacles

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• advances
• encourages
• promotes
• fosters
• aids
• assists
• furthers
• cultivates
• forwards
• facilitates
• nurtures
• abets
• eases
• smooths

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of foils

Noun

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

The Australian shipyard just announced that the 100-foot Palm Beach XI has flown across the water using radical new C-foils (curved foils). —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Feb. 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

Banks created this look by topping a black polish with colorful, holographic foils. —Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 5 Jan. 2026

But in addition to their function as comedic foils, the duo also help reinforce the show’s message that friendship is another infinite resource that helps pull us through the toughest moments of our lives. —Stephanie Ganz, Parents, 5 Jan. 2026

New Atlas has previously reported on fast, inexpensive direct lithium extraction that could prevent supply crises, and a super-fast robotic system for dismantling EV batteries to extract lithium, cobalt, and metal foils. —New Atlas, 31 Dec. 2025

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