spoiled

American

[spoild] / spɔɪld /

adjective

(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

a simple past tense and past participle of spoil.

Other Word Forms

unspoiled adjective

Etymology

Origin of spoiled

spoil ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

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.

This slim, powerful novel could be spoiled by too much information, but lingering too long on the 60-something narrator’s encounter with a teenager that makes her remember her own teenaged self — seems too simple.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

A fine night for Newcastle was spoiled in the closing stages when captain Bruno Guimaraes hobbled off with what appeared to be a torn hamstring in a devastating blow to their ambitions across three competitions.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

Sure, it’s easy to loathe New England fans, who are spoiled rotten after six Super Bowls, and need another trophy in the way a cat needs sunglasses.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 8, 2026

Online comments have been predictably divided: while some have called him "spoiled" and "ungrateful" towards David and Victoria Beckham, others have applauded the 26-year-old for standing up for himself and prioritising his mental health.

From BBC • Jan. 31, 2026

Jack had been much more interested in learning why bees stung or what part of the month were-rabbits transformed into humans, rather than how to deal with spoiled royals who couldn’t get out of bed.

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023