as in contrasts
something or someone that is different from another especially in a pleasing way
This cool, refreshing salad is the perfect foil for spicy foods.
Related Words
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Dissimilar Words
as in frustrates
to prevent from achieving a goal
in popular fiction the hero will always foil the villain's plans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of foils
Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 24 Apr. 2026
Foiling yachts typically run software that adjusts the foils hundreds of times a second to maintain safe, level flight.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2026
Since their roof scene in season, Abbot and Noah Wyle’s character have been set up as foils to each other.
—Wisdom Iheanyichukwu, Vanity Fair, 17 Apr. 2026
The young cast is led by Chase Infiniti and Lucy Halliday, whose characters start out as foils but come to find common ground.
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Highlights use foils to separate hair sections, making the overall look brighter.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2026
But more than a few of the pandemic's gray-pride cohort have returned to a life of foils, ammonia, and root touchups.
—Valerie Monroe, Allure, 25 Mar. 2026
Even San Francisco, long known for its tolerant drug laws, recently rolled back a program that distributed foils and pipes in an effort to encourage smoking over injection.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
The metal could appear in oversized zippers, shiny buttons, bold belt buckles or as metallic coatings and foils.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 21 Jan. 2026
Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
Few passengers can show original receipts, which foils their claim.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026
So give a warm welcome to The Life of a Showgirl, Swift’s 12th studio album, which foils The Tortured Poets Department in a few major ways.
—Jaeden Pinder, Pitchfork, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
Plus, unlike traditional methods of coloring panels that often use 'diffusing foils' that scatter light everywhere and cause power losses of up to 50%, MorphoColor uses a precise 3D photonic structure on the glass surface designed specifically for high transmission.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 24 Apr. 2026
Foiling yachts typically run software that adjusts the foils hundreds of times a second to maintain safe, level flight.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2026
Since their roof scene in season, Abbot and Noah Wyle’s character have been set up as foils to each other.
—Wisdom Iheanyichukwu, Vanity Fair, 17 Apr. 2026
The young cast is led by Chase Infiniti and Lucy Halliday, whose characters start out as foils but come to find common ground.
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Highlights use foils to separate hair sections, making the overall look brighter.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2026
But more than a few of the pandemic's gray-pride cohort have returned to a life of foils, ammonia, and root touchups.
—Valerie Monroe, Allure, 25 Mar. 2026
Even San Francisco, long known for its tolerant drug laws, recently rolled back a program that distributed foils and pipes in an effort to encourage smoking over injection.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
The metal could appear in oversized zippers, shiny buttons, bold belt buckles or as metallic coatings and foils.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
At their elite school the students play a game like soccer during which the boys have the ball, but the witches can interfere by using their powers to make the field icy or create a wind that foils the opposition team.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
Few passengers can show original receipts, which foils their claim.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026
So give a warm welcome to The Life of a Showgirl, Swift’s 12th studio album, which foils The Tortured Poets Department in a few major ways.
—Jaeden Pinder, Pitchfork, 3 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foils
Verb
-
Start with the room that frustrates you most, identify what’s creating clutter and look for a single piece of furniture that solves two problems at once.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The person at the cash register has to stop helping other customers to try and track down the booth owner, which holds up the line and frustrates everybody.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Best of all, these eclectic complements come in all shapes and sizes—from modern designs by contemporary artists and local artisans to collectible porcelains resold by vintage dealers.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Make sure the music stays in the background and complements, not competes with, the conversation.—
Kate Donovan,
Martha Stewart,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sam Houston comeback thwarts Irving Arlington Sam Houston scored three unanswered goals after trailing 2-0 in the first half against Irving on Friday night.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Unless her future self thwarts the plan, Steiner will mail a copy of Empty Chair to her estranged relative in hopes of reconciliation.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In other words, Heidecker plans to hawk supplements like these.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Hill wants a 5% increase in teacher supplements, which range from about $8,000 to $14,000.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This baffles and outrages Angela, a protective mom who, with other parents, pushes back against Gabor using her math classroom as a forum for introducing the outside world’s worst actions.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
7 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
On the back of four Premier League defeats in a row and a squad pockmarked by injuries, some kind of change was required.—
Conor O'Neill,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Al Gore defeats George W Bush to become the 42nd President of the United States.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foils. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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