spoil
Americanverb (used with object)
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spoils,
present (3rd person singular)
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spoiled,
past participle, past
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spoilt,
past participle, past
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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.
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to diminish or impair the quality of; affect detrimentally.
Bad weather spoiled their vacation.
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to impair, damage, or harm the character or nature of (someone) by unwise treatment, excessive indulgence, etc..
to spoil a child by pampering him.
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Archaic. to strip (persons, places, etc.) of goods, valuables, etc.; plunder; pillage; despoil.
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Archaic. to take or seize by force.
verb (used without object)
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spoils,
present (3rd person singular)
-
spoiled,
past participle, past
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spoilt,
past participle, past
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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.
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to plunder, pillage, or rob.
noun
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Often spoils. booty, loot, or plunder taken in war or robbery.
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the act of plundering.
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an object of plundering.
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Usually spoils.
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the emoluments and advantages of public office viewed as won by a victorious political party.
the spoils of office.
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prizes won or treasures accumulated.
a child's spoils brought home from a party.
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waste material, as that which is cast up in mining, excavating, quarrying, etc.
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an imperfectly made object, damaged during the manufacturing process.
idioms
verb
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(tr) to cause damage to (something), in regard to its value, beauty, usefulness, etc
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(tr) to weaken the character of (a child) by complying unrestrainedly with its desires
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(intr) (of perishable substances) to become unfit for consumption or use
the fruit must be eaten before it spoils
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(intr) sport to disrupt the play or style of an opponent, as to prevent him from settling into a rhythm
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archaic to strip (a person or place) of (property or goods) by force or violence
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to have an aggressive desire for (a fight, etc)
noun
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waste material thrown up by an excavation
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any treasure accumulated by a person
this gold ring was part of the spoil
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obsolete
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the act of plundering
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a strategically placed building, city, etc, captured as plunder
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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
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spoilsimple
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spoilssimple
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have spoiledperfect
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have spoiltperfect
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has spoiledperfect
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has spoiltperfect
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am spoilingprogressive
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are spoilingprogressive
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is spoilingprogressive
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have been spoilingperfect progressive
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has been spoilingperfect progressive
Past
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spoiledsimple
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spoiltsimple
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had spoiledperfect
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had spoiltperfect
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was spoilingprogressive
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were spoilingprogressive
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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
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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:
“I don’t want to spoil anything,” he says carefully, “but I can’t wait for people to see what Harrenhal has in store for him.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
But that refusal to risk vulnerability comes back to bite her when the daughter she turned herself inside out to spoil pulls a move reminiscent of Veda in “Mildred Pierce,” betraying Emma for vapid reasons.
From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026
But a scorching heat wave across the eastern United States threatened to spoil July Fourth celebrations over the weekend.
From Barron's ● Jul. 4, 2026
On how Fifa handled the U-turn, he said: "It's rubbish. There's no thought about anybody travelling to the game... they don't care if they spoil it for everybody".
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
I figured the real reason he didn’t want anybody to see the rose blankets, it would spoil his surprise for the funeral.
From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns
The characters, drawn from every social background, are in frantic pursuit of the spoils of industrial progress—sometimes to the death.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
While the nation tries to figure it out, Austin is reaping the spoils of its housing overhaul.
From Barron's ● May 31, 2026
The announcement seemed to be yet another sign that the earliest supporters of Nvidia would not be sharing in the company’s spoils.
From MarketWatch ● May 23, 2026
It’s extraordinary what these guys did, but I won’t say so much because it spoils the magic.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 7, 2026
Carla complains about her daughter, but I can tell she spoils her as much as she can.
From "Everything, Everything" by Nicola Yoon
Additionally, 85 million pounds of food thawed, burned and spoiled inside, creating a terrible smell that emanated from the property.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
David Matias Rodriguez, an 82-year-old retiree, said he was worried the few things in his refrigerator would be spoiled.
From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026
Meanwhile, children watching the match at Castleway Primary in Leasowe, Wirral, were told they would miss playtime for the rest of the week if they spoiled the result for anyone.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
And then I got a little verklempt: We have never been this spoiled for choice.
From Salon ● Jun. 27, 2026
“He’s here with me, getting spoiled rotten. The men who found you told everyone how Moose laid on top of you and kept you warm. Your dog’s a hero; everyone’s feeding him pieces of doughnut.”
From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret
Tour de France fans were spoilt for choice in Paris when it came to drinking in the drama of cycling's greatest race.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
When spoilt votes were excluded, Humphreys won 29% of first preference votes, while Fianna Fail's Jim Gavin, who withdrew from the race but remained on the ballot paper, won 7% first preference votes.
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2025
"He was very kind, he spoilt me a lot. He had a sweet tooth like me, and always knew what treats to buy me," Nastia says.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2025
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
If you know your heart sorry, I say, that mean it not quite as spoilt as you think.
From "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker
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
I can just see Lionel Messi spoiling our party.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
HBO has asked journalists to refrain from spoiling specific jokes, revealing certain gags, or mentioning guest stars that haven’t been announced or confirmed in photos.
From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2026
Her father tries to make up for the time he has missed by spoiling the children.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
Being in that house was spoiling the hope of what life should offer.
From "Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos
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.
