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.
had spoilt
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past perfectof spoil.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
In his recent book, Ayes & Ears: A Survivor's Guide to Westminster, Sir David Amess wrote about how attacks on MPs had "spoilt the great British tradition" of voters meeting politicians.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2021
Fellows, centre, who often had spoilt brat roles, plays a sweet kid sister with Rita Hayworth and Tony Martin in Music in My Heart, 1940.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 7, 2011
My afternoon had spoilt me for the hours that still remained, and I thought how long they would seem until my bed-time, how empty too my supper all alone.
From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier
Lord Thrapston felt that he had spoilt the moral effect of his reproof, and, without dwelling further on that aspect of the subject, he addressed his mind to the more practical question.
From Comedies of Courtship by Hope, Anthony
How terrible if, after all my journeying, I had spoilt the charm!
From Prince Vance The Story of a Prince with a Court in His Box by Myrick, Frank
