spoiled
Americanadjective
-
(of a person, especially a child) indulged excessively or pampered, with a harmful effect on character.
Her grandfather is a rough, no-nonsense farmer with little patience for a spoiled kid from the city.
-
(of food) having become bad or unfit for use; tainted, rancid, or soured.
Eating spoiled fish causes symptoms that closely resemble an allergic reaction.
-
severely damaged or harmed, especially in a way that reduces value, usefulness, excellence, enjoyment, etc.; marred or ruined.
His new book, Fly Fishing Tips for the Desperate, can help turn a spoiled fishing trip into a successful one.
-
(of a ballot) disqualified by being marked in an improper way or otherwise marred or defaced.
If you make a mistake on your absentee ballot, return it to the auditor with "spoiled ballot” on the envelope and request a replacement.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of spoiled
Explanation
When a person is spoiled, they're damaged by having been given everything they want. Spoiled people are usually pretty rotten. When food is spoiled, it's also rotten—literally. Spoiled things and spoiled people are both fairly unpleasant. A spoiled child typically whines for something and gets it, becoming used to that kind of over-indulgent treatment. Spoiled milk smells terrible and tastes even worse. This adjective comes from the verb spoil, meaning "ruin" or "destroy"; the idea was that giving in to a child's every whim would ruin him.
Vocabulary lists containing spoiled
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.
It is further claimed the property was unsanitary, with soiled nappies and spoiled food and drink littered around.
From BBC • Jul. 7, 2026
And then I got a little verklempt: We have never been this spoiled for choice.
From Salon • Jun. 27, 2026
However they remain concerned about biohazards potentially posed by spoiled food.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 20, 2026
I’m very spoiled living in the Valley, because I live near amazing sushi.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2026
Also, her grandparents had given the nicest blanket to Mama and Papa, because Papa was the only son, so he was supposed to be spoiled.
From "A Place to Belong" by Cynthia Kadohata
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.
