foiled

¹ American  

[foild] / fɔɪld /

verb

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

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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.

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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

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

From BBC

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

From The Wall Street Journal

Frantic efforts to get in touch with parents and siblings to discuss their options were sometimes foiled by the rolling internet blackouts at home.

From The Wall Street Journal

Qatar also said its air defences foiled a drone attack targeting the US air base at Al-Udeid, Washington's largest military facility in the Middle East.

From Barron's

Mossadegh foiled the arrest attempt, and the streets filled with clashing factions.

From Barron's

Related Words

• barred
• blocked
• closed
• confined
• controlled
• defined
• deprived
• prescribed
• reduced
• restrained
• secured
• shortened
• tethered