foiled

verb

Definition of foilednext
past tense of foil
as in frustrated
to prevent from achieving a goal in popular fiction the hero will always foil the villain's plans

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of foiled Also — and this could be its killer feature — the Nook fully foiled my squirrels. — Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 22 Oct. 2026 After building an action camera capable of tracking speedy cyclists and skiers, HoverAir decided to tackle a foe that had foiled other consumer drone manufacturers. — Max Cea, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 Ghost Rider wound up in the Smithsonian’s collection anyway, a monument to grand ambition foiled by user error. — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 The terrorist plot was foiled after an FBI informant supplied the suspect with an AK-47 rifle and 200 rounds of ammunition. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 8 Oct. 2026 In 2022, internet infrastructure provider Cloudflare also said that the use of security keys had foiled a phishing attempt that tricked a few employees into entering their passwords into a fake login form. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026 Miami’s first possession was foiled when Willis threw high and missed Bell, who was open. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026 Years ago, William had plotted to pollute the the ley lines — the source of all witches and warlocks’ magical powers — which was foiled by a Mary, Graves and their coven sister Tamora (Keegan Connor Tracy). — Mya Copeland, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026 Counsel was enraged that his gambit was foiled by one jury holdout on the insanity argument. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 2 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foiled
  1. frustrated
  2. thwarted
  3. hampered
  4. baffled
  5. defeated
Verb
  • The tight margins, after campaigning by both sides, show the measure is a tricky one for Californians who value environmental protections but are frustrated by the state’s high housing and utility costs, Baldassare said.
    — Andrew Graham October 27, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Some of his closest Middle East advisers, including his son-in-law Jared Kushner, had grown frustrated with the Israeli leader.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of frustrated
Verb
  • Every time the twitchy little bug stops for a moment, Snaggletooth focuses to prepare a pounce, only to be thwarted as the fatty snack buzzes to another spot in the nest.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The local ceasefire is due to last through Saturday, or longer, though deep mistrust between Russia and Ukraine has thwarted previous attempts at ceasefires.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of thwarted
Verb
  • Cocoa production was hampered by extreme-weather issues for years, causing prices for the crop to surge.
    — Aoife Walsh, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • O’Connor, conversely, may be hampered by his sympathetic warmth.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of hampered
Verb
  • On a lesser show, Lee would have thrown Dale a meaningful look, baffled that the material world was aligning with the woo-woo.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Beyond being frustrated with the secrecy, locals said they were baffled by the lack of specifics and clarity the stakeholders had about the project, per the records.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of baffled
Verb
  • In 2026, Keiko Fujimori narrowly defeated a left-wing candidate to win the Peruvian presidency, while most recently, in Colombia, conservative attorney Abelardo de la Espriella bested left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda.
    — David Unsworth, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Since Baker Mayfield signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023, the Panthers have defeated their division rivals just once in the past seven meetings, including Carolina’s 43-13 blowout loss at home Sunday.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of defeated

Browse Nearby Words

foil
foiled
foiling
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Cite this Entry

“Foiled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foiled. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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