was fooled

USAGE SUMMARY

"was fooled" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is the past tense of the verb "fool," meaning to deceive or trick someone. Example sentence: I was fooled by her charming smile and ended up lending her money.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"What happened here, ladies and gentlemen, is he was fooled, absolutely fooled," Mr. Adam told jurors in opening remarks.

The New York Times

No one was fooled.

The Economist

Nobody was fooled.

The New York Times

I sure was fooled.

The New York Times

"I was fooled into this.

Independent

But no one was fooled.

The New York Times

Everyone was fooled," he says.

The Guardian

"I was fooled," he said.

The New York Times

No wonder Reagan was fooled.

The Guardian - Arts

Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown was fooled.

The New Yorker

I doubt that he was fooled.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was fooled" to clearly indicate that someone was deceived or tricked, emphasizing the action that was performed on them rather than their inherent foolishness.

Common error

Avoid using "was fooled" when you actually mean someone acted foolishly. "Was fooled" indicates deception by an external force, not inherent lack of judgment. For example, saying "He was fooled by the scam" is correct. But saying "He was fooled to invest all his money" is incorrect; you would rather say "He was foolish to invest all his money."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was fooled" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence experienced deception. It is formed using the past tense of the verb "to be" ("was") followed by the past participle of the verb "fool". According to Ludwig, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Science

2%

Academia

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was fooled" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive construction indicating that someone experienced deception. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is widely accepted and applicable in various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse writing scenarios. While synonyms like "was deceived" or "was tricked" exist, the specific choice depends on the nuance you want to convey. When using "was fooled", ensure that you're emphasizing the action of deception rather than implying inherent foolishness on the part of the subject.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was deceived

Focuses on the act of being misled, often implying intentional manipulation.

was tricked

Emphasizes the use of cunning or deception to achieve a goal.

was duped

Suggests a lack of awareness or intelligence on the part of the person being fooled.

was misled

Indicates being guided in the wrong direction, either intentionally or unintentionally.

was taken in

Implies being charmed or persuaded into believing something false.

fell for it

An informal way of saying someone believed a trick or deception.

was hoodwinked

Suggests being deceived in a clever or cunning way.

was bamboozled

Implies being confused or bewildered by deception.

was conned

Focuses on being swindled out of money or possessions.

was played

Suggests that the person being fooled was used or manipulated for someone else's gain.

FAQs

How can I use "was fooled" in a sentence?

Use "was fooled" to indicate that someone was deceived or tricked. For example, "The referee "was fooled" by the player's dive."

What are some synonyms for "was fooled"?

Some alternatives to "was fooled" include "was deceived", "was tricked", or "was duped", depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "was fooled" or "fooled by"?

"Was fooled" indicates that someone experienced deception, while "fooled by" describes the agent or method of deception. For example, "He "was fooled" by her disguise" (he experienced deception) vs. "He was easily fooled by simple tricks" (simple tricks were the method).

What's the difference between "was fooled" and "felt foolish"?

"Was fooled" means someone experienced deception by external forces. On the other hand, "felt foolish" describes an internal feeling or realization of having made a mistake or acting in a silly manner. They aren't interchangeable.