despoil
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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despoilsimple
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despoilssimple
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have despoiledperfect
-
has despoiledperfect
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am despoilingprogressive
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are despoilingprogressive
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is despoilingprogressive
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have been despoilingperfect progressive
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has been despoilingperfect progressive
Past
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despoiledsimple
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had despoiledperfect
-
was despoilingprogressive
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were despoilingprogressive
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had been despoilingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of despoil
1175–1225; Middle English despoilen < Old French despoillier < Latin dēspoliāre to strip, rob, plunder, equivalent to dē- de- + spoliāre to plunder; see spoil
Explanation
Despoil is to spoil, only worse. You may spoil a dinner party by being late, but we all despoil the earth with pollution and over-consumption. The Latin root of despoil meant "to strip or rob" and although despoil is used more broadly now, it has that sense within it. When we despoil the earth, we rob it of its beauty and strip it of its natural resources. In the same way, an invading army might despoil a village, wrecking houses and stealing valuables.
Vocabulary lists containing despoil
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Lyndon B. Johnson on "The Great Society" (1964)
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Tolkien Reading Day, List 6
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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.
Intermittent power in some areas returns for as little as 45 minutes a day, causing food to spoil in the scorching heat.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
It’s too soon to spoil it for him.
From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026
The design scheme certainly doesn’t want to spoil anyone’s good time.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026
Jenna frequently brought gifts and treats for her mum, wanting to "spoil" her.
From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026
I did not want to spoil Chandra’s happiness with my misery.
From "Homeless Bird" by Gloria Whelan
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.
