| Main Entry: | foil |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | contrast |
Synonyms: |
antithesis, background, complement, counterblow, defense, guard, setting |
| Notes: | a fencing sword with a bowl-shaped guard and flexible blade is an épée; the one with a circular guard is a foil |
| Main Entry: | foil |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | circumvent, nip in the bud |
Synonyms: |
baffle, balk, beat, bilk, bollix, buffalo, check, checkmate, counter, crab, cramp, crimp, curb, dash, defeat, disappoint, disconcert, ditch, dodge, duck, elude, faze, foul up, frustrate, get around, give the run-around, give the slip, hang up, hinder, juke, nullify, outwit, prevent, rattle, restrain, run circles around, run rings around, shake, shake off, shuffle off, skip, stop, stymie, throw monkey wrench in, thwart, upset the apple cart |
Antonyms: |
abet, aid, assist, help |
| Main Entry: | actor |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | person who performs, entertains by role-playing |
Synonyms: |
amateur, artist, barnstormer, bit player, character, clown, comedian, entertainer, extra, foil, ham, hambone, headliner, idol, impersonator, ingénue, lead, mime, mimic, pantomimist, performer, play-actor, player, soubrette, stand-in, star, stooge, straight person, thesp, thespian, trouper, understudy, ventriloquist, villain, walk-on |
Antonyms: |
audience, fan |
| Main Entry: | avert |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | thwart; avoid by turning away |
Synonyms: |
avoid, deflect, deter, divert, fend off, foil, forestall, frustrate, halt, look away, preclude, prevent, rule out, shove aside, shunt, stave off, turn, turn aside, turn away, ward off |
| Notes: | avert means 'prevent, turn away' and avoid means 'stay clear of, shun' overt means apparent or open to view or plain or public; avert means to prevent or turn away |
Antonyms: |
aid, help |
| Main Entry: | baffle |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hinder |
Synonyms: |
beat, block, check, circumvent, dash, defeat, disappoint, foil, frustrate, impede, obstruct, prevent, ruin, thwart, upset |
Antonyms: |
abet, aid, assist, encourage, help, relieve, support |
| Main Entry: | balk |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | thwart |
Synonyms: |
baffle, bar, beat, check, circumvent, counteract, cramp, cramp one's style, dash, defeat, disappoint, disconcert, foil, forestall, frustrate, hinder, obstruct, prevent, ruin, stall, stop, throw a curve, throw monkey wrench in, upset the apple cart |
Antonyms: |
aid, help, make easier |
| Main Entry: | bilk |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | cheat |
Synonyms: |
bamboozle*, beat, circumvent, con, deceive, defraud, disappoint, do*, fleece, flimflam, foil, frustrate, gyp, overreach, rook, ruin, snow*, swindle, thwart, trick |
Antonyms: |
give, give away |
| Main Entry: | cheat |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | frustrate, thwart |
Synonyms: |
baffle, check, defeat, deprive, foil, prevent |
| Main Entry: | check |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hinder, restrain |
Synonyms: |
arrest, baffle, bar, bit, bottleneck, bridle, checkmate, choke, circumvent, constrain, control, counteract, curb, cut short, delay, discourage, foil, frustrate, halt, harness, hold, hold back, hold down, hold in, impede, inhibit, interrupt, keep back, limit, moderate, neutralize, nip in the bud, obstruct, obviate, pause, play for time, preclude, prevent, rebuff, reduce, rein in, repress, repulse, retard, slacken pace, slow down, snub, squelch, stay, stop, suppress, tame, terminate, thwart, withhold |
Antonyms: |
aid, allow, assist, expedite, help, indulge, liberate, permit |
| Main Entry: | circumvent |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | fool, mislead |
Synonyms: |
avoid, beat, beguile, bilk, bypass, circumnavigate, cramp, crimp, deceive, detour, disappoint, dodge, dupe, elude, ensnare, entrap, escape, evade, foil, frustrate, get around, hoodwink, outflank, outwit, overreach, prevent, queer, ruin, shun, sidestep, skirt, stave off, steer clear of, stump, stymie, thwart, trick, ward off |
Antonyms: |
aid, allow, assist, help, permit |