as in to frustrate
to prevent from achieving a goal
in popular fiction the hero will always foil the villain's plans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in contrast
something or someone that is different from another especially in a pleasing way
This cool, refreshing salad is the perfect foil for spicy foods.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of foil
Andy Andersen, Vulture, 6 Apr. 2025
So Far The clip starts off with Neeson's character, Frank Drebin Jr., foiling a bank robbery by disguising himself as a little girl.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
Gretchen McKay, Boston Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
Images from the scene on official channels showed black body bags lining the side of the road, while more bodies were seen wrapped in foil blankets amid the debris.
—Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foil
Verb
But the assassin is foiled by none other than Bart, now under house arrest.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 6 Apr. 2025
So Far The clip starts off with Neeson's character, Frank Drebin Jr., foiling a bank robbery by disguising himself as a little girl.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
Noun
Cover with foil, and bake for 25-30 minutes, until sauce is bubbling and cheese is browned.
—Gretchen McKay, Boston Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
Images from the scene on official channels showed black body bags lining the side of the road, while more bodies were seen wrapped in foil blankets amid the debris.
—Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foil
Verb
-
What frustrates you most about navigating love in the digital age?—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Piastri and his camp, led by steely former F1 racer Mark Webber, were frustrated with Alpine’s slow progress towards his F1 graduation.—
Alex Kalinauckas,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
By contrast, Lyon have progressed from their previous 11 semi-finals in this competition, going on to win eight of the resulting finals.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
-
By contrast, the lab origin hypothesis largely relies on the proximity of a research lab to the first cases, conjecture, and distrust of the Chinese government, which has not been forthcoming with information on the early days of the health crisis.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The Guna have long thwarted real-estate developers and foreign investors eyeing both the shore and the uninhabited islands, which are a postcard vision of paradise.—
Mark Johanson,
AFAR Media,
22 Apr. 2025
-
And then came the Tampa Bay Lightning, who thwarted everything that made the Panthers so successful.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
As Swansea looks to cement itself as the country’s dominant force, whether Modric—a European who’s experienced English soccer at Tottenham Hotspur—complements or disrupts the U.S. owners’ thinking will be fascinating.—
Henry Flynn,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
-
The springtime complement to Halloween Horror Nights, Fan Fest Nights focuses on theme park theatrics and sci-fi, gaming and anime rather than horror.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
This May, students from across the United States will gather in Washington D.C., for the 100th anniversary of the Scripps Spelling Bee, determined to conquer a spelling system that has baffled us for centuries.—
Gabe Henry,
Time,
15 Apr. 2025
-
With a fastball that tops out around 87 mph, Barrett finds other ways to baffle hitters.—
Dave Melton,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Oral vitamin B12 supplements are usually sufficient to maintain daily requirements.—
Emmanuella Ogbonna,
Health,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Some supplements can contain ingredients not listed on the label, including prescription drugs.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The dissatisfaction simmered for years, hampering efforts to combine the automakers fully.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
But Macdonald is after more than just a concert film, letting those musical interludes serve as counterpoint to a larger investigation into Lennon and Ono’s mindset at a moment of deep division within American society.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Their relationship comes off as a more realistic and enjoyable counterpoint to that other stranger one, wherein neither party dares to get too close for fear of invading comfort zones or upsetting the whole intergenerational shebang.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foil. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share