spoiler
Americannoun
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spoilers
plural
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a person or thing that spoils.
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a person who robs or ravages; despoiler; plunderer.
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Aeronautics. a device used to break up the airflow around an aerodynamic surface, as an aircraft wing, in order to slow the movement through the air or to decrease the lift on the surface and, as a result, provide bank or descent control.
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Automotive. a similar device for changing the airflow past a moving vehicle, often having the form of a transverse fin or blade mounted at the front or rear to reduce lift and increase traction at high speeds.
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Sports. a team out of final contention that defeats a potential or favored contender and thereby thwarts its chances of winning a championship.
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any competitor, entrant, or candidate who has no chance of ultimate victory but does well enough to spoil the chances of another.
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information about a plot or event in a movie, book, or show that may spoil the suspense or surprise.
Spoilers were leaked before the movie was released. Spoiler alert! Do not read further if you haven't already seen the season finale.
noun
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plunderer or robber
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a person or thing that causes spoilage or corruption
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a device fitted to an aircraft wing to increase drag and reduce lift. It is usually extended into the airflow to assist descent and banking Compare air brake
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a similar device fitted to a car
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sport a competitor who adopts spoiling tactics, as in boxing
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a magazine, newspaper, etc produced specifically to coincide with the production of a rival magazine, newspaper, etc in order to divert public interest and reduce its sales
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of spoiler
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A spoiler doesn’t have to be a shocking twist; it can be any crucial plot point, especially an unexpected one.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
But the present and possibly future Green Lanterns were summoned there for a reason best left unsaid here, and in keeping with HBO’s extensive spoiler embargo.
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026
Mild spoiler alert: Readers of “Kitchen Confidential” will also know it’s dedicated to Nancy, who became his first wife.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
Leandro Paredes was the spoiler in chief, with Enzo Fernandez his deputy.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
While we welcomed anyone brought into the struggle by the PAC, the role of the organization was almost always that of a spoiler.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Author and veteran television critic Alan Sepinwall hates spoilers, but he has some guidelines around what constitutes one.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
A recent trailer for Season 5 highlighted its footage with Paul before cameras went down, including spoilers about Paul’s unaired season of “The Bachelorette.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
Rockstar acknowledged players had been waiting for it to address the leaked footage, and said it was "unfortunate the intended game experience may now be impacted by some spoilers".
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
Obviously with massive spoilers ahoy, here are eight of the biggest ways Nolan’s “Odyssey” departs from Homer’s.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
“I’m not giving you any more spoilers, but that’s not what’s bothering me.”
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
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.
