Advertisement
Advertisement
spoil
[spoil]
verb (used with object)
to damage severely or harm (something), especially with reference to its excellence, value, usefulness, etc.: Drought spoiled the corn crop.
The water stain spoiled the painting.
Drought spoiled the corn crop.
Synonyms: , , , , , , , , , ,to diminish or impair the quality of; affect detrimentally.
Bad weather spoiled their vacation.
to impair, damage, or harm the character or nature of (someone) by unwise treatment, excessive indulgence, etc..
to spoil a child by pampering him.
Archaic.to strip (persons, places, etc.) of goods, valuables, etc.; plunder; pillage; despoil.
Archaic.to take or seize by force.
verb (used without object)
to become bad, or unfit for use, as food or other perishable substances; become tainted or putrid.
Milk spoils if not refrigerated.
to plunder, pillage, or rob.
noun
Often spoils. booty, loot, or plunder taken in war or robbery.
the act of plundering.
an object of plundering.
Usually spoils.
the emoluments and advantages of public office viewed as won by a victorious political party.
the spoils of office.
prizes won or treasures accumulated.
a child's spoils brought home from a party.
waste material, as that which is cast up in mining, excavating, quarrying, etc.
an imperfectly made object, damaged during the manufacturing process.
spoil
/ ɔɪ /
verb
(tr) to cause damage to (something), in regard to its value, beauty, usefulness, etc
(tr) to weaken the character of (a child) by complying unrestrainedly with its desires
(intr) (of perishable substances) to become unfit for consumption or use
the fruit must be eaten before it spoils
(intr) sport to disrupt the play or style of an opponent, as to prevent him from settling into a rhythm
archaicto strip (a person or place) of (property or goods) by force or violence
to have an aggressive desire for (a fight, etc)
noun
waste material thrown up by an excavation
any treasure accumulated by a person
this gold ring was part of the spoil
obsolete
the act of plundering
a strategically placed building, city, etc, captured as plunder
Other Word Forms
- spoilable adjective
- spoilless adjective
- unspoilable adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of spoil1
Word History and Origins
Origin of spoil1
Idioms and Phrases
be spoiling for, to be very eager for; be desirous of.
It was obvious that he was spoiling for a fight.
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
To say how Sugar Hill’s Black residents fared in court would spoil the enjoyment of this suspenseful tale, which has put Lurie on a new path in writing historical fiction.
As a capper, right when Eve starts to drive away, there’s a neat crane move with a motivation I don’t want to spoil.
Subconsciously, these shows coax us into accepting certain inhumane behaviors as the inevitable spoils of being part of the 1%.
Trump's father sent Donald to military school because he was spoiled and out of control.
Opposites attract in this story of a spoiled pop princess and a cowboy.
Advertisement
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse