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
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Critiques from the American right, which lament the film’s timely depictions of a police state, immigrant internment camps and leftist revolt, read like ChatGPT essays programmed to write in the voice of Karen.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Nov. 2025
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The focus was on Afghanistan, and when to take out the al-Qaeda training camps protected by the country’s Taliban leadership.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
For many Americans, universities appear more like fortresses than forums.—
Nicholas Dirks,
Time,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Sleek architecture marries centuries-old fortresses—while locals swap skis for kayaks, depending on the season.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Jacksonville can count on several military facilities, including naval stations and a submarine base, and Washington is, of course, home to the Pentagon.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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On the earnings call, Sinclair president and CEO Chris Ripley noted that Sinclair’s ABC stations are currently affected by the Disney-YouTube TV dispute, which has resulted in a blackout of ABC, as well as ESPN and other networks, on YouTube TV since last Friday.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The organization's dogs don't just support New Yorkers on marathon day; New York Therapy Animals' fluffy volunteers spread smiles across the city's hospitals, healthcare facilities, day centers, and assisted living facilities.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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This funding freeze forced rape crisis centers to fire critical staff.—
Gwen Moore,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Footholds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/footholds. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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