spoiled

[ spoild ]

adjective

1. (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.

2. (of food) having become bad or unfit for use; tainted, rancid, or soured:

   Eating spoiled fish causes symptoms that closely resemble an allergic reaction.

3. 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.

4. (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

1. a simple past tense and past participle of spoil ( def ).

Other Words From

• un·spoiled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spoiled¹

spoil ( def ) + -ed ²( def )

Example Sentences

Yes, Mailer was, as he readily admitted, something of a spoiled Jewish boy.

From The Daily Beast

That kind of spoiled naïveté seems inexcusable in a clearly intelligent author who is pushing 30.

From The Daily Beast

Poor Stone, like most of us, forced to share a stage with this unpredictable, spoiled brat, looked uncomfortable.

From The Daily Beast

They have putrid California grapes for eyes, puffed-out cheeks of spoiled plums, sweltered eggplant lips.

From The Daily Beast

Even stories of cruise ships in trouble with leaky toilets and spoiled food are popular.

From The Daily Beast

Where there is no hedge, the possession shall be spoiled: and where there is no wife, he mourneth that is in want.

From Project Gutenberg

But this sudden blow was a reminder that fate had been capricious to spoiled darlings before.

From Project Gutenberg

Entrusted with sixty thousand men with orders to make a vast turning movement, his timidity spoiled the Emperor's careful plans.

From Project Gutenberg

He would never suffer that fine crop of hay to be spoiled; and father, with no one here to help him to bring it in.

From Project Gutenberg

He has been with me to see old Mrs. Robins, and she made so much of him, that if I take him again he'll be regularly spoiled.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• rotten