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

Vue also told the BBC they ask customers to "have consideration to others when watching a film", while Odeon asks customers not to "spoil the enjoyment of others".

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

Saying too much more would spoil all of the fun to be had, but the banana is only the beginning.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

There have been seven nationwide blackouts since 2024, making life more difficult for Cubans who fear food will spoil in refrigerators, among other problems in a country in economic crisis.

From Barron's • Mar. 22, 2026

Eisenberg and Schulman agreed that sharing too much about Norman before people could watch the show would spoil all the delightful surprises he delivers.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026

I didn’t want to spoil it by having a fight.

From "My Brother Sam is Dead" by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

Related Words

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