as in frustrated
to prevent from achieving a goal
in popular fiction the hero will always foil the villain's plans
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of foiled
My plan got foiled when Ewers was promoted to starter for the final three games.
—
Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
Of course, Swift and her team were forced to cancel three nights in the city after a terrorist plot was foiled.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 23 Dec. 2025
Kate’s dreams of being a hotshot green architect, foiled by her handywoman era, nearly takes her to Boston.
—Rachel Handler, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
The first of those moments was foiled by a game-tying Miguel Rojas home run (his first hit in a calendar month) with one out in the top of the ninth inning.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foiled
Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
Of course, Swift and her team were forced to cancel three nights in the city after a terrorist plot was foiled.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 23 Dec. 2025
Kate’s dreams of being a hotshot green architect, foiled by her handywoman era, nearly takes her to Boston.
—Rachel Handler, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
The first of those moments was foiled by a game-tying Miguel Rojas home run (his first hit in a calendar month) with one out in the top of the ninth inning.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foiled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foiled
Verb
-
Fans were frustrated, and a growing number were opting to stay home rather than attend key late November/December games at M&T Bank Stadium, with an AFC North title still within the Ravens’ reach.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
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But while Coogan racked up millions of views for his YouTube explainers about political figures like Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, he was frustrated by the hours of prep work that went into producing a single episode.—
Julia Black,
Vanity Fair,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Khamenei also thanked Iranians who participated in Monday’s pro-government rallies, saying the demonstrations thwarted external plots against the country.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
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The Irvine Police Department arrested two people after officers thwarted a $100,000 handbag heist early Tuesday morning.—
Hunter Sowards,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Sam Leavitt, who starred at Arizona State the past two seasons and led the Sun Devils to a College Football Playoff appearance in 2024 before injuries hampered him this year, has committed to the LSU Tigers, according to multiple reports Monday.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
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Injuries have hampered the offensive line, and quarterback Jalen Hurts has at times appeared tentative rather than the aggressive passer and scrambler that helped lead the Eagles to victory in the Super Bowl.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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One thing that baffled me a little were the flashbacks.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Jan. 2026
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The team behind the shock discovery (in more ways than one) is baffled by this beautiful arc of material, which defies expectations and current theories surrounding such stellar remains.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Houston Texans defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 in the final game of the wild card round of the playoffs on Monday in what might be the end of the Aaron Rodgers era in the NFL.—
Kevin Dotson,
CNN Money,
13 Jan. 2026
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The Panthers were defeated by the Los Angeles Rams, 34-31, on Saturday in the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs.—
Mike Kaye
January 13,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foiled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foiled. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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