Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

foiled

1 American  
[foild] / fɔɪld /

verb

  1. the simple past tense and past participle of foil.

adjective

  1. prevented from succeeding; thwarted; blocked.

    A woman is now being questioned in connection with the foiled terror plot to attack churches in Paris.
foiled 2 American  
[foild] / fɔɪld /

adjective

Architecture.

  1. ornamented with foils (arcs or rounded spaces), as a gable, spandrel, or balustrade.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of foiled1

First recorded in 1300–50 as a verb, for an earlier sense; foil 1 ( def. ) + -ed 1 ( def. ), and in 1680–90 as an adjective; foil 1 ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. )

Origin of foiled2

First recorded in 1655–65; foil 2 + -ed 3

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.

Foiled once when Lonnie Walker IV missed a potential game-tying three-point shot with 2.8 seconds left in regulation, Ham circled back with another choice that probably wouldn’t have been on his cue card.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 3, 2022

Bot armies: Foiled again, thanks to that meddling Musk!

From Slate • Oct. 4, 2022

Facebook Says First-Person Christchurch Video Foiled AI System Nate Lanxon covers a hearing of British lawmakers who are conducting an inquiry into hate speech.

From The Verge • Apr. 25, 2019

Foiled Again is the career leader in harness racing earnings with $6,894,531.

From New York Times • Dec. 12, 2014

Foiled at Palmer’s window, they might get in other ways, other windows.

From "Wringer" by Jerry Spinelli

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.