as in bases
a place from which an advance (as for military operations) is made
don't let the opposing team push us back down the field and gain a foothold
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Recent Examples of footholds
Create footholds for bats to roost.
—
Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Oct. 2025
Despite a bloody war fought between the two neighbors from 1980 to 1988, Baghdad remains one of Tehran's few remaining footholds in the region.
—Emma Graham, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2025
In that vein, the brand matrix has been expanded beyond its footholds in skin care and makeup with a greater focus on fragrance, including brands like Vyrao and House of Bō.
—James Manso, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2025
Sweeping cuts in federal jobs and the dismantling of corporate DEI programs have disproportionately destabilized these footholds, as MSNBC reported.
—Britney Porter, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
HollyShorts Film Festival is betting big on international expansion, with plans to launch in Dubai this December as the Oscar-qualifying short film showcase looks to establish footholds beyond its Hollywood home base.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Aug. 2025
Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Oct. 2025
Despite a bloody war fought between the two neighbors from 1980 to 1988, Baghdad remains one of Tehran's few remaining footholds in the region.
—Emma Graham, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2025
In that vein, the brand matrix has been expanded beyond its footholds in skin care and makeup with a greater focus on fragrance, including brands like Vyrao and House of Bō.
—James Manso, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2025
Sweeping cuts in federal jobs and the dismantling of corporate DEI programs have disproportionately destabilized these footholds, as MSNBC reported.
—Britney Porter, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
HollyShorts Film Festival is betting big on international expansion, with plans to launch in Dubai this December as the Oscar-qualifying short film showcase looks to establish footholds beyond its Hollywood home base.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for footholds
Noun
-
Here is the match schedule for games in KC, as well as information about tickets, the FIFA fan fest, team base camps and area transportation.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2026
-
A couple of 2025 winners bring healing through free summer camps for kids with a parent with cancer.—
Sharon Chin,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Andermatt, Switzerland High in the Alps, where trains wind through snowbound passes and peaks rise like fortresses, Andermatt is one of Switzerland’s most dynamic winter destinations.—
Mark Ellwood,
AFAR Media,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Such structures, including residences and fortresses, were created by religious authorities and noble families, according to the city’s tourism website.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Like a ball passing through the barriers of a pinball machine, the water flows among the components as directed by 2,200 miles of canals, 2,100 miles of levees and berms, 84 pump stations and 778 water control structures.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
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Walmart is expanding its network of charging stations for electric vehicles in the new year at nearly 80 stores throughout the country, including a half dozen in the Charlotte region.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Roughly half of the nation’s major air traffic control centers are experiencing staff shortages, the Federal Aviation Administration told ABC News.—
Chase Jordan
Updated November 7,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Nov. 2025
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Even as this risk rises rapidly, there are still plans for launching mega constellations of tiny satellites akin to those that are already orbiting as part of SpaceX’s Starlink system, along with a newly emerging push for orbital data centers such as Nvidia’s Starcloud.—
Humberto Basilio,
Scientific American,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Footholds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/footholds. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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