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
As millions of Venezuelan refugees moved through Latin America, Tren de Aragua established criminal footholds along migration corridors, extending its reach into Colombia, Peru, Chile, Ecuador and eventually the United States.
—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2026
The latest report, from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, also traced how Russia and Rwanda have established economic and security footholds in CAR alongside UAE trading networks.
—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
12 June 2026
Far from being regarded as academic exercises or theoretical explorations, venturing programs are proving themselves fundamental to the long-term vitality of organizations globally, gaining footholds in Asia, Europe, Australia, and across the Americas.
—
Serguei Netessine,
Fortune,
28 May 2026
Meanwhile, some of America’s largest AI companies have also established footholds on campus.
—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
28 May 2026
The local voting also provides an opening for smaller parties, independents and outsider candidates to gain political footholds that would be far harder to achieve in national parliamentary races.
—
Inaya Folarin Iman,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
The second generation, which began in the early 2000s, saw K-pop gain footholds in regional markets like China, Japan and Southeast Asia.
—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
The fact is that recent or older series can gain new footholds with modern viewers who haven’t seen them.
—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
Additional footholds in Aspen and Hawaii follow a familiar pattern of buying adjacent homes within the same enclave.
—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
20 Apr. 2026
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2026
The latest report, from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, also traced how Russia and Rwanda have established economic and security footholds in CAR alongside UAE trading networks.
—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
12 June 2026
Far from being regarded as academic exercises or theoretical explorations, venturing programs are proving themselves fundamental to the long-term vitality of organizations globally, gaining footholds in Asia, Europe, Australia, and across the Americas.
—
Serguei Netessine,
Fortune,
28 May 2026
Meanwhile, some of America’s largest AI companies have also established footholds on campus.
—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
28 May 2026
The local voting also provides an opening for smaller parties, independents and outsider candidates to gain political footholds that would be far harder to achieve in national parliamentary races.
—
Inaya Folarin Iman,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
The second generation, which began in the early 2000s, saw K-pop gain footholds in regional markets like China, Japan and Southeast Asia.
—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
The fact is that recent or older series can gain new footholds with modern viewers who haven’t seen them.
—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
Additional footholds in Aspen and Hawaii follow a familiar pattern of buying adjacent homes within the same enclave.
—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for footholds
Noun
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By replacing passive screen time with active participation, camps give children the opportunity to create, explore and connect.
-
There are many different ways to take active vacations including niches such as white water rafting, surfing schools, yoga retreats, and triathlon training camps.
Noun
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Some, like France's Maginot Line, became border fortresses stretching for miles, while German coastal defenses sat on the cliffs of Normandy, requiring the Allies to take out with sea bombardments and direct infantry assaults.
-
The trailers show that Eternia was once a vibrant alien-like world with multi-colored forests, massive mountains and fortresses with towering faces carved into their entrances.
Noun
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Ukraine has sought to derail the Kremlin’s plans by launching counterattacks in the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, where Russian forces have sought to carve out bridgeheads with an aim to advance toward the regional capitals, which are key industrial hubs.
Noun
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Transportation planners spent months warning that downtown streets, MARTA stations and major highways could experience significant disruptions on match days.
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Troops have largely been assigned to high-visibility patrols around Washington's tourist corridors and several downtown Metro stations, while also assisting with litter collection and graffiti removal.
Noun
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Lahore is the capital of Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province, where many parents send their children to private tutoring centers in the afternoon and evening.
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Kennard could have provided a critical floor-spacing piece around Doncic, who thrives when surrounded by lob-catching centers, athletic wings and knockdown shooters.
Cite this Entry
“Footholds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/footholds. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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