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.
were 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.
In fact, he originally had even more new spaces in the intro, but Stiller told him they were spoiling too much.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 23, 2025
“When I made good pitches they were spoiling them or putting them in play, and then I stopped making good pitches,” Strider said.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 8, 2023
Those guys clearly were spoiling for a fight.
From Slate ● Mar. 10, 2022
The hard-fighting youths, who participated in airborne operations in Normandy and Holland, were spoiling for action and they found it here.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 21, 2020
“I fell. Donte helped me up. The others were spoiling for a fight.”
From "Black Brother, Black Brother" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
