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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

  • unfoiled adjective

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.

Iran's military claims the US operation was "completely foiled", but has not given a full account of events.

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

Nuñez claimed similar attacks have been foiled in other European nations, including France, Netherlands, Britain and Norway.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

Iran-linked plots have also been foiled beyond Europe, pointing to a broader campaign.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

Meanwhile, Satya Jaganathan's weekend plans were foiled by the events.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026

But when these were foiled in Bree and at Crickhollow, they returned to their Captain with tidings, and so left the Road unguarded for a while, except by their spies.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien

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.