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
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
That includes the tacky Featherington family, the cane-wielding Lady Danbury, and the mysterious Lady Whistledown, whose newsletter sets the town ablaze by detailing the foibles of the bold and the beautiful by name.
—Sara Netzley, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Jan. 2026
His tendencies and foibles are well known to voters, politicians, and world leaders.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Her humanity is foregrounded, and Lloyd Parry avoids sensationalism by honing in on his strengths; his knowledge of the culture and justice system of both Japan and England and his ability to communicate the foibles and quirks of both.
—Rebecca Hannigan, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
But the tone is often more satiric than somber, Park highlighting Man-su’s foibles and insecurities.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Still, some of these foibles are easier to forgive when seen in service of the greater good.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Jan. 2026
There were triumphs and trials, feats and foibles, delights and disasters.
—Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025
Yet where experimentation generally teaches new lessons, this felt more like reinforcement of where England are good and where England still have problems, a performance punctuated by familiar defensive frustrations and foibles.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
That includes the tacky Featherington family, the cane-wielding Lady Danbury, and the mysterious Lady Whistledown, whose newsletter sets the town ablaze by detailing the foibles of the bold and the beautiful by name.
—Sara Netzley, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Jan. 2026
His tendencies and foibles are well known to voters, politicians, and world leaders.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Her humanity is foregrounded, and Lloyd Parry avoids sensationalism by honing in on his strengths; his knowledge of the culture and justice system of both Japan and England and his ability to communicate the foibles and quirks of both.
—Rebecca Hannigan, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
But the tone is often more satiric than somber, Park highlighting Man-su’s foibles and insecurities.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Still, some of these foibles are easier to forgive when seen in service of the greater good.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Jan. 2026
There were triumphs and trials, feats and foibles, delights and disasters.
—Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025
Yet where experimentation generally teaches new lessons, this felt more like reinforcement of where England are good and where England still have problems, a performance punctuated by familiar defensive frustrations and foibles.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foibles
Noun
-
If your goal is to get at the truth, or at least our closest approximation of it at the present time, the way to do that is to be scrupulous and forthright about the strengths and weaknesses of every link in your chain of argument.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Per-room prices for hotel purchases fell in California primarily due to weaknesses in the Bay Area market, Atlas Hospitality Group reported in its annual survey of hotel sales activity.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Barca’s faults, however, went far beyond him.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
-
These mini-seismic events are not considered true earthquakes because there is no movement along faults or tectonic plate boundaries.—
Tammie Souza,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Ultimately, Richardson would acknowledge the film’s shortcomings in his book.—
Alexander Nazaryan,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Veterans have often been some of the harshest (and most clear-eyed) analysts of the military’s shortcomings.—
Missy Ryan,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Most of the revelations in the files have not revealed journalistic sins, but have highlighted uncomfortably close relationships with New York media figures and a man who had been convicted of soliciting a minor.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Yasmin, meanwhile, is still haunted by the sins of her father—a figure reminiscent of Robert Maxwell—yet seemingly doomed to enable the same kinds of offenses.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foibles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foibles. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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