View synonyms for spoil

spoil

[ spoil ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

spoiled or spoilt, spoiling.

to damage severely or harm (something), especially with reference to its excellence, value, usefulness, etc.: Drought spoiled the corn crop.
The water stain spoiled the painting.
Drought spoiled the corn crop.
Synonyms: pamper, indulge, coddle, baby, harm, ruin, mar, injure, impair, disfigure, damage
to diminish or impair the quality of; affect detrimentally:
Bad weather spoiled their vacation.
to impair, damage, or harm the character or nature of (someone) by unwise treatment, excessive indulgence, etc.:
to spoil a child by pampering him.
Archaic. to strip (persons, places, etc.) of goods, valuables, etc.; plunder; pillage; despoil.
Archaic. to take or seize by force.

verb (used without object)

spoiled or spoilt, spoiling.

to become bad, or unfit for use, as food or other perishable substances; become tainted or putrid:
Milk spoils if not refrigerated.
to plunder, pillage, or rob.

noun

Often spoils. booty, loot, or plunder taken in war or robbery.
the act of plundering.
an object of plundering.
Usually spoils.
1. the emoluments and advantages of public office viewed as won by a victorious political party:
  the spoils of office.
2. prizes won or treasures accumulated:
  a child's spoils brought home from a party.
waste material, as that which is cast up in mining, excavating, quarrying, etc.
an imperfectly made object, damaged during the manufacturing process.

spoil

/ spɔɪl /

verb

tr to cause damage to (something), in regard to its value, beauty, usefulness, etc
tr to weaken the character of (a child) by complying unrestrainedly with its desires
intr (of perishable substances) to become unfit for consumption or use
the fruit must be eaten before it spoils
intr sport to disrupt the play or style of an opponent, as to prevent him from settling into a rhythm
archaic.
to strip (a person or place) of (property or goods) by force or violence
be spoiling for
to have an aggressive desire for (a fight, etc)

noun

waste material thrown up by an excavation
any treasure accumulated by a person
this gold ring was part of the spoil
obsolete.
1. the act of plundering
2. a strategically placed building, city, etc, captured as plunder

Discover More

Other Words From

spoil·a·ble adjective
spoil·less adjective
un·spoil·a·ble adjective

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of spoil¹

First recorded in 1300–50; (verb) Middle English spoilen, from Old French espoillier, from Latin spoliāre “to despoil,” equivalent to spoli(um) “booty” + -āre infinitive suffix; (noun) derivative of the verb or from Old French espoille, derivative of espoillier

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of spoil¹

C13: from Old French espoillier, from Latin spoliāre to strip, from spolium booty

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

be spoiling for, Informal. to be very eager for; be desirous of:
It was obvious that he was spoiling for a fight.

More idioms and phrases containing spoil

spare the rod and spoil the child
too many cooks spoil the broth
to the victor belong the spoils

Discover More

Synonym Study

Spoil, ruin, wreck agree in meaning to reduce the value, quality, usefulness, etc., of anything. Spoil is the general term: to spoil a delicate fabric. Ruin implies doing completely destructive or irreparable injury: to ruin one's health. Wreck implies a violent breaking up or demolition: to wreck oneself with drink; to wreck a building.

Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Browse