The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word MONKEYED
M
O
N
K
E
Y
E
D
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "fooled" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case fooled = monkeyed.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does MONKEYED mean?
MONKEYED verb- To meddle; to mess (with).
- To mimic; to ape.