1
as in to taint
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
too much coddling will spoil the child
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to decompose
to go through decomposition
the meat has spoiled
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to damage
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
know when to stop, for an unnecessary brushstroke can spoil a painted portrait
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to indulge
to treat with great or excessive care
when they were newlyweds, the wife tended to spoil her husband, but she soon got over that
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spoil
Philip Montgomery, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025
Everyone in the program sacrificed to deliver a championship, and now they’re all entitled to enjoy the spoils.
—Austin Meek, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
cleveland, 17 Dec. 2022
So, who exactly could spoil the Astros' pursuit of a third Commissioner's Trophy?
—Michael Shapiro, Chron, 12 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for spoil
Noun
Even people who were unlikely to enjoy the spoils of power in Trump’s second presidency could take some pleasure, in this moment, in wielding it.
—Verb
However, Cleveland can still spoil a potential playoff run for Washington.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for spoil
Noun
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The Alarm can even be upgraded to automatically call the police, give the burglar an electro shock, or force her to drop some of her loot while escaping.—
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When asked whether Backyard Sports would introduce microtransactions — specifically loot boxes — Barnett shut it down immediately.—
Verb
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Listen to this article Two state utilities have asked a judge to order Connecticut’s chief regulator to produce cellphone data and other materials that the companies say could show that a rate decision slashing their revenue last year was tainted by bias and other procedural irregularities.—
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The movement also was tainted by instances of rampant antisemitism, which Khalil disavowed.—
Verb
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The clippings quickly decompose, adding nutrients to the soil in the process.—
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Like the dog, their bodies were decomposing with some mummification, a consequence of body type and climate in Santa Fe's especially dry air at an elevation of nearly 7,200 feet (2,200 meters).—
Verb
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The storm brought 138 mph winds, according to the National Weather Service, damaging hundreds of homes and businesses.—
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Waging war on Denmark is wrong and will damage U.S. defense and foreign relations for decades We Americans should be ashamed of ourselves and of our government.—
Verb
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Pileggi can’t write outside of his own sandbox, which means that DeNiro indulges the usual nefariousness.—
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Go the practical route and indulge her with a new pan from one of our favorite brands.—
Noun
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While in Africa, Suchet visits Kimberley, the site of diamond mines (and where Rhodes founded the De Beers diamond company), and the plunder and extraction are so clear.—
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The revisionists aim to create an environment primed for expansion and plunder.—
Verb
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The transition has been marred by ongoing disagreements, political tensions, infighting and what security experts describe as a lack of a cohesive strategy for fighting the gangs.—
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What Happened On March 8? The SAT, a cornerstone of college admissions, was marred by technical and administrative issues on test day.—
Verb
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The second phase was meant to pave the way to an end to the war, although the truce disintegrated when Israeli forces resumed airstrikes on Gaza.—
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The piece was about the cycle of life—the apple would rot and eventually disintegrate.—
Cite this Entry
“Spoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spoil. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.
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