spoil
verb (used with object)
to damage severely or harm (something), especially with reference to its excellence, value, usefulness, etc.: Drought spoiled the corn crop.
was spoiling
-
past progressiveof spoil.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Rather than engage with workers during the toughest economic conditions in decades, O'Grady said the government was "spoiling for a fight".
From Reuters ● Jun. 29, 2022
“Twenty-four hours a day she was spoiling him,” says Batool’s father, Mohammed Atallah al-Masri.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 20, 2021
Turns out pasta with meat sauce was what a younger, fussier Sierra would get when dining out with his father, or at home when his mother was spoiling him.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 18, 2019
I was glad to hear from them and was spoiling for a fight.
From New York Times ● Apr. 16, 2015
“I like our bracelets better. Besides, I’m not so sure Papá was spoiling us. I think he felt guilty, for being gone so much,” I said.
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
