spoiler
Americannoun
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spoilers
plural
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a person or thing that spoils.
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a person who robs or ravages; despoiler; plunderer.
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Aeronautics. a device used to break up the airflow around an aerodynamic surface, as an aircraft wing, in order to slow the movement through the air or to decrease the lift on the surface and, as a result, provide bank or descent control.
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Automotive. a similar device for changing the airflow past a moving vehicle, often having the form of a transverse fin or blade mounted at the front or rear to reduce lift and increase traction at high speeds.
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Sports. a team out of final contention that defeats a potential or favored contender and thereby thwarts its chances of winning a championship.
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any competitor, entrant, or candidate who has no chance of ultimate victory but does well enough to spoil the chances of another.
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information about a plot or event in a movie, book, or show that may spoil the suspense or surprise.
Spoilers were leaked before the movie was released. Spoiler alert! Do not read further if you haven't already seen the season finale.
noun
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plunderer or robber
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a person or thing that causes spoilage or corruption
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a device fitted to an aircraft wing to increase drag and reduce lift. It is usually extended into the airflow to assist descent and banking Compare air brake
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a similar device fitted to a car
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sport a competitor who adopts spoiling tactics, as in boxing
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a magazine, newspaper, etc produced specifically to coincide with the production of a rival magazine, newspaper, etc in order to divert public interest and reduce its sales
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of spoiler
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:
Leandro Paredes was the spoiler in chief, with Enzo Fernandez his deputy.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
Not here since, as Prady reveals, “the title of each episode is a meaningless spoiler for that episode.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
That theatre of the conflict could be "the biggest ultimate spoiler" of the coming negotiations, said Ross Harrison, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute.
From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026
Determined to preserve the state’s tradition of supporting independents, while also solving the spoiler problem such candidates could create, Mainers approved the reform through a statewide initiative.
From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2026
“I thought one spoiler doesn’t ruin the book.”
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
This story includes spoilers for “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
But for those who had avoided spoilers, Risk It All, a slow R&B ballad from Mars' latest album, The Romantic, was perhaps an unexpected opener.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
No spoilers, but Brazil and Japan played a screamer of a game this afternoon.
From Slate ● Jun. 29, 2026
This article contains spoilers for “House of the Dragon,” season 3, episode 1.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
The optimism at the opening of the talks could not be dampened even by a few spoilers.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
