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
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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.
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of foil
Don Riddell, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
The plot was foiled by law enforcement before any attack could be carried out.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 28 Mar. 2026
Chef Mary Attea from the Musket Room likes them for their surprising resilience given their light weight, and uses them to start big batches of rice on the stove or to quickly smoke dishes inside with the help of some heavy duty foil.
—Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foil
Verb
His fourth attempt was foiled when he was arrested at the airport and detained and tortured for several months.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
The plot was foiled by law enforcement before any attack could be carried out.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
Design grows dense forests of carbon nanotubes The design grows dense forests of carbon nanotubes directly onto copper foil and coats them with a thin layer of silicon, creating a flexible, conductive scaffold that can absorb expansion while maintaining performance.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 28 Mar. 2026
Chef Mary Attea from the Musket Room likes them for their surprising resilience given their light weight, and uses them to start big batches of rice on the stove or to quickly smoke dishes inside with the help of some heavy duty foil.
—Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foil
Verb
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Chris Kuhns, who worked as an investigator in the BOI for 20 years and wrote the shelved report into Ramirez’s death, was frustrated by the unit’s inability to accomplish what it was required to do by law.—
Joe Rubin,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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While experts say the funds are beginning to make a difference, the sluggish pace of spending in some communities, from the wine country of Grand Traverse County to mid-Michigan's Eaton County, has frustrated some state leaders.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In contrast, the Fraternal Order of Eagles advocated for pensions for industrial wage laborers—for people who had worked in jobs that wore out their bodies and left them physically unable to work.—
Trevor Jackson,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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Start with one strong, anchoring piece—like a bed or sofa—then build around it with contrast.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Both problems also thwarted Artemis I, whose capsule returned with excessive heat shield damage.—
Marcia Dunn,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
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Its volatility already thwarted launch attempts in February.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The country’s once-reluctant medical establishment is increasingly welcoming the way doulas complement doctors and nurses, and with insurance coverage growing fast, parents from across the economic spectrum can now take advantage.—
Laura Ungar,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
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His quickness might need some refining going to the NFL level, but his gap-scheme ability and receiving ability would make for a perfect complement in a running back room.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His disaffection baffles his acquaintances and pains his tubercular wife (a superb Quinn Jackson), whose doctor (Lambert Tamin) has only contempt for her husband’s agonizing.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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The Late Show host appeared genuinely baffled by the president’s current poll numbers during his opening monologue on Tuesday, mostly due to the 22 percent of Americans who are still throwing their support behind the 79-year-old former reality star.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The records provide an inside view of the business of infant formula and fortifier, a nutritional supplement added to a mother’s milk.—
David Hilzenrath,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
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The world of collagen supplements—which has long been a staple in supporting our skin, hair, and joint health—can be a tricky one to navigate.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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The moves have reportedly left the task force without prosecutors with national security experience, hampering its goal to root out American connections to the Hamas attacks (which included 40 Americans among its approximately 1,200 victims).—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The additions represented a welcome counterpoint to what occurred during much of 2025, when job losses consistently haunted the Bay Area.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2026
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Then wander next door to Queenstown Marina, a modern counterpoint to the heritage cafe that consists of a bakery, a Pilates studio and watersports outfitters housed in candy-colored floating sheds.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foil. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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