foil

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

People who have worked with him described him as an unflappable, straight-shooter whose personality makes him an ideal foil for Dario Amodei, Anthropic’s idiosyncratic CEO.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

Together, the two airlines said, they would pose a better foil to the giants United, American, and Delta, which had formed over the decades through their own big piles of mergers and acquisitions.

From Slate • May 5, 2026

Wrap them in foil and store them in the fridge.

From Salon • May 5, 2026

As Deby had not long moved into her house, she had used a stepladder to strip wallpaper but that and a few foil blankets became the basis of her lunar lander.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

I’m not proud of it—I don’t normally speak to people in that manner, and especially women—but damned if I was going to let some busybody do-gooder foil my outing.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen