spoil

American  

[spoil] / spɔɪl /

verb (used with object)

spoiled, spoilt, spoiling

1. 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:

   pamper, indulge, coddle, baby, harm, ruin, mar, injure, impair, disfigure, damage

2. to diminish or impair the quality of; affect detrimentally.

   Bad weather spoiled their vacation.

3. to impair, damage, or harm the character or nature of (someone) by unwise treatment, excessive indulgence, etc..

   to spoil a child by pampering him.

4. Archaic. to strip (persons, places, etc.) of goods, valuables, etc.; plunder; pillage; despoil.

5. Archaic. to take or seize by force.

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verb (used without object)

spoiled, spoilt, spoiling

1. to become bad, or unfit for use, as food or other perishable substances; become tainted or putrid.

   Milk spoils if not refrigerated.

2. to plunder, pillage, or rob.

noun

1. Often spoils. booty, loot, or plunder taken in war or robbery.

2. the act of plundering.

3. an object of plundering.

4. Usually spoils.

   1. the emoluments and advantages of public office viewed as won by a victorious political party.

      the spoils of office.

   2. prizes won or treasures accumulated.

      a child's spoils brought home from a party.

5. waste material, as that which is cast up in mining, excavating, quarrying, etc.

6. an imperfectly made object, damaged during the manufacturing process.

idioms

1. be spoiling for, to be very eager for; be desirous of.

   It was obvious that he was spoiling for a fight.

spoil British  

/ spɔɪl /

verb

1. (tr) to cause damage to (something), in regard to its value, beauty, usefulness, etc

2. (tr) to weaken the character of (a child) by complying unrestrainedly with its desires

3. (intr) (of perishable substances) to become unfit for consumption or use

   the fruit must be eaten before it spoils

4. (intr) sport to disrupt the play or style of an opponent, as to prevent him from settling into a rhythm

5. archaic to strip (a person or place) of (property or goods) by force or violence

6. to have an aggressive desire for (a fight, etc)

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noun

1. waste material thrown up by an excavation

2. any treasure accumulated by a person

   this gold ring was part of the spoil

3. obsolete

   1. the act of plundering

   2. a strategically placed building, city, etc, captured as plunder

spoil More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing spoil

• spare the rod and spoil the child
• to the victor belong the spoils
• too many cooks spoil the broth

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Related Words

Spoil, ruin, wreck agree in meaning to reduce the value, quality, usefulness, etc., of anything. Spoil is the general term: to spoil a delicate fabric. Ruin implies doing completely destructive or irreparable injury: to ruin one's health. Wreck implies a violent breaking up or demolition: to wreck oneself with drink; to wreck a building.

Other Word Forms

• spoilable
  adjective
• spoilless
  adjective
• unspoilable
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of spoil

First recorded in 1300–50; (verb) Middle English spoilen, from Old French espoillier, from Latin spoliāre “to despoil,” equivalent to spoli(um) “booty” + -āre infinitive suffix; (noun) derivative of the verb or from Old French espoille, derivative of espoillier

Explanation

When you spoil something, you destroy it or ruin its quality. If you spoil a surprise, you tell the secret you were supposed to keep. When you spoil something, you mess it up, like spoiling someone's good mood by bringing up a painful memory. Food can also spoil, or become unsafe for eating, and you can spoil a child by always giving him everything he wants, making him unable to cope when things don't go his way. The word spoil comes from the Old French espoillier, to plunder. In fact, things taken by force are called spoils, like the spoils of war.

Example Sentences

But it’s not this reviewer’s position to tell you what “a lot” is — loose lips spoil scripts.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

They would spoil the pristine purity of Vernon Point’s only “esplanade”—a befuddled Kyra not having realized she lives on one.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

Most Iran experts don’t see these divisions as big enough to spoil a potential de-escalation.

From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026

Mountains of ripe tomatoes, waiting to be turned into paste or sauce, are left to spoil.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026

I hope it’s a rich old granny who wants to spoil you silly.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

Related Words

• destroy
• devastate
• harm
• impair
• mar
• tarnish
• undo
• upset
• wreck