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
But we’re invited to see him as, despite these foibles, amusing and retaining, and his cynicism about everything and his lack of moral scruple is—actually, we’re invited to see this as a kind of higher wisdom.
—
David Frum, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
The experiences of Americans − from social movements and racial tensions to government foibles, consumerism, media sensationalism and even the American dream itself − have informed our dramatic productions.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 20 Mar. 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
For all of Mayor Adams’ foibles, one of his definite achievements was the passage of the City of Yes package of legislation, which took concrete steps in the direction of facilitating more and larger development.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
Kuper, as a man who has lived in many different countries, writes well about the cultures and foibles of soccer teams and their fans.
—Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Writing about their failures, foibles and frustrations did not lessen the hold that these three men and their movie magic have on Fischer.
—Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Yet all these arguments originate with unmistakably human quirks and foibles, many of which defy easy judgments of right and wrong.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Adjusting to life in a Purosangue requires a zen-like commitment to dealing with electronic foibles.
—Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
David Frum, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
The experiences of Americans − from social movements and racial tensions to government foibles, consumerism, media sensationalism and even the American dream itself − have informed our dramatic productions.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 20 Mar. 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
For all of Mayor Adams’ foibles, one of his definite achievements was the passage of the City of Yes package of legislation, which took concrete steps in the direction of facilitating more and larger development.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
Kuper, as a man who has lived in many different countries, writes well about the cultures and foibles of soccer teams and their fans.
—Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Writing about their failures, foibles and frustrations did not lessen the hold that these three men and their movie magic have on Fischer.
—Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Yet all these arguments originate with unmistakably human quirks and foibles, many of which defy easy judgments of right and wrong.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Adjusting to life in a Purosangue requires a zen-like commitment to dealing with electronic foibles.
—Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foibles
Noun
-
To actually take stock of the strengths and weaknesses and act accordingly.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
30 Mar. 2026
-
This past week showcased the strengths of carrots and the weaknesses of sticks.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The tectonic architecture of the Aegean Sea is messy, rife with crisscrossing faults and myriad volcanoes that make unraveling what happens at depth extremely difficult.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Tonga is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the arc of seismic faults where much of the world’s earthquake and volcanic activity occurs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Johnnies thrive on messy, on disruptive pressure that limit possessions to compensate for what is ordinarily their own offensive shortcomings.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Harris’ death underscores growing concerns about the risks of riding small, low-speed electric vehicles and the shortcomings of the user agreements riders have with the companies that rent them.—
Hope Moses,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Their sins will be washed away by the waters of liberty.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Whatever Heidegger’s political sins, his philosophy restores a clarity our therapeutic culture fears.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foibles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foibles. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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