spoil
Americanverb (used with object)
-
spoils,
present (3rd person singular)
-
spoiled,
past participle, past
-
spoilt,
past participle, past
-
spoiling
present participle
-
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.
-
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)
-
spoils,
present (3rd person singular)
-
spoiled,
past participle, past
-
spoilt,
past participle, past
-
spoiling
present participle
-
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.
idioms
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
-
archaic to 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
-
Synonym Usage
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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
spoilsimple
-
spoilssimple
-
have spoiledperfect
-
have spoiltperfect
-
has spoiledperfect
-
has spoiltperfect
-
am spoilingprogressive
-
are spoilingprogressive
-
is spoilingprogressive
-
have been spoilingperfect progressive
-
has been spoilingperfect progressive
Past
-
spoiledsimple
-
spoiltsimple
-
had spoiledperfect
-
had spoiltperfect
-
was spoilingprogressive
-
were spoilingprogressive
-
had been spoilingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing spoil
Words to Know Before You Defrost the Bird
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Beowulf vocabulary
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Earth and Space"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
That ending, which I won’t spoil here, is where the film most often divides.
From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026
“Because now he can spoil pitches, and he’s staying in at-bats longer.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
The stock market isn’t convinced that will happen, but more hard-nosed bond investors could spoil the party.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
The eccentric executive cast his criticism as friendly, invoking the French proverb "qui aime bien chatie bien" -- spare the rod, spoil the child.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
Skating with Alexi and Svetlana was her dream—Nancy couldn't let Deirdre spoil it!
From "Case of the Sneaky Snowman: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #5" by Carolyn Keene
But however the spoils are divided, Morgan and Carla will continue to live at a level at which the word “comfortable” has no real meaning.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Plump yourself on the spoils of would-be gardeners.
From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2026
It may also offer them a cut of the spoils from a tolled Strait, but that hardly sweetens the foul deal for the rest of the world.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
Ironically, the easiest way to fund his plans would be to draw on the spoils of faster growth.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026
As for Tawantinsuyu, smallpox wiped out Wayna Qhapaq and his court, which led to civil war as the survivors contested the spoils.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
For one, I believe audiences should know exactly what they are paying for, and two, I do not think “The Pineapple” can be properly spoiled.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
The referendum was organised by the local parish council and out of 312 votes cast, 285 voted to leave, there were 26 no votes, and one ballot paper was spoiled.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
Before Sept. 11, some suggested that the generation coming of age in 2001 was too spoiled or cynical to answer a serious call to service.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
That view, unlike a similar one in Spain would be, is not yet spoiled by parasols and day-trippers’ detritus.
From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026
He was spoiled and rude and reminded Danny a little of the Garner twins.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
The contributor wrote that they had seen a rise in "spoilt" children with "demanding behaviour due to overindulgent parenting".
From BBC ● Dec. 4, 2025
Fans in New England were spoilt rotten with almost two decades of unbridled success during the Tom Brady and Bill Belichick era - the greatest quarterback and head coach combination the sport has ever witnessed.
From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2024
“We are spoilt for choice. We like our meat as meat, and our fish as fish.”
From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2024
There has been growing debate over how to manage what China calls "bear children" - spoilt young kids who kick up a fuss in public spaces such as by screaming or damaging public property.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2024
“An old dear like me being able to handle three spoilt Pollyannas ‘amazingly.’”
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
For entertainment journalists who watch everything, spoiling surprises is a casualty of the job.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
Over the years, Holland has gained a reputation for his loose lips, spoiling plot details from “Spider-Man” and “Avengers” films.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
No matter what, the stock market has been showering investors with wealth like a crazy rich uncle who can’t stop spoiling all the kids in the family.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Apparently Tom Holland isn’t the only “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” creative with a bad habit of accidentally spoiling movies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
But they were spoiling, rotting from the outside in, like a pair of peaches in the sun.
From "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli
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.
