as in rotten
having undergone organic breakdown
spoiled milk
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
or chiefly British spoilt
1
as in tainted
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 decomposed
to go through decomposition
the meat has spoiled
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in damaged
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 indulged
to treat with great or excessive care
when they were newlyweds, the wife tended to spoil her husband, but she soon got over that
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spoiled
Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026
The United Center cheers were nearly spoiled when Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy challenged the game-winner for an offside penalty.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
Rinse out spoiled oil bottles and repurpose them as stylish storage or decorative accents around your home.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Dec. 2025
The middle of three holiday games finds Minnesota out of contention and relegated to a spoiler role here -- although Detroit’s playoff hopes are pretty much spoiled and rotten as is.
—Miami Herald, 23 Dec. 2025
Johnson said the losses extended beyond spoiled meat, hitting his business during one of the busiest weekends of the year.
—Da Lin, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
This includes materials like leaves, stems, peels, seeds, and unripe or spoiled fruit, most of which are considered low-value waste despite being rich in energy-dense compounds that can be converted into fuel.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 18 Dec. 2025
Here's how to tell the difference between harmless crystals and signs of spoiled cheese, plus how to store your cheese properly to keep it tasting its best.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2025
Expect micro-cultural collisions and unlikely collabs as this spoiled child discovers there are other Main Characters.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 19 Nov. 2025
Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026
Until one moment spoiled everything.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
The loss spoiled the return of Clippers center Ivica Zubac, who was back in uniform for the first time in two weeks because of an ankle injury.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 4 Jan. 2026
Not even a career-best performance from Dailyn Swain could save the Longhorns from the nasty concoction on the defensive end that ultimately spoiled their night.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 3 Jan. 2026
Not only was the fight card shorter than expected, but the party was spoiled by the visitors.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Keeping Knueppel in street clothes for another day would’ve spoiled the family gathering, since his brothers played in a basketball tournament in Myrtle Beach over the weekend.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 31 Dec. 2025
The Toronto Blue Jays nearly ended their 32-year World Series drought, but the Los Angeles Dodgers spoiled their hopes in Game 7.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Staff members spoiled him with attention, and Burrow left looking fluffy, clean, and happy for the rest of the day.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
What to Do With Overripe Pears Not to worry if pears are soft but not spoiled.
—Verb
Since the totality is gracing Libya and Egypt, clear skies are almost guaranteed for the astounding event—a welcome piece of news for anyone who remembers the clouds that spoiled visibility in parts of North America during the 2024 eclipse.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for spoiled
Adjective
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In a city in which the house always wins — and so many others lose and lose — the Raiders’ rotten run of futility is getting old.—
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Learn how to banish that rotten egg smell from your washer while keeping it fresh, clean, and odor-free.—
Verb
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Lawyers also argued the conviction should be overturned because the verdict was tainted by the media attention and due to faulty instructions to the jury.—
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Just as one bite of a cookie might not happen to contain chocolate chips, one small sample of drugs might not include fentanyl even if the larger supply is tainted, the agency’s website explains.—
Verb
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The first was that the obstacles were decomposed into cuboids.—
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Rivas’ cause and manner of death are still being determined by the medical examiner; the exam is taking longer than usual as the remains were severely decomposed.—
Verb
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The 13 apartments were damaged by fire, smoke or water.—
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But overloading the dishwasher can result in dirty dishes that need to be put through a second cycle to get clean, and dishes that are crammed in may become damaged.—
Verb
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Seibert’s niece, said her uncle indulged his love of travel the past three years, even going on a road trip to his old haunts in Washington, Idaho and Montana.—
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As for whether whims like that need to be indulged, Mayer, perhaps not surprisingly, is on the side of the talent.—
Verb
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Residents are also urged to watch children closely while playing outdoors where mushrooms grow and to keep pets away, since animals can be poisoned as well.—
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In June 2024, Bich poisoned a fourth relative — a teenager — who survived after collapsing and being rushed to the hospital, where doctors discovered cyanide in his stomach and alerted the family, the outlets reported.—
Verb
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That includes money to replace a lot of wood that rotted away due to holes in the roof and walls.—
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With the high humidity, most of the stock had rotted in a few days.—
Verb
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Their union was marred by affairs on both sides, perhaps most notably Charles’s ongoing affair with the former Camilla Parker Bowles (now Queen Camilla).—
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The deal has largely held, though it has been marred by mutual accusations of violations.—
Cite this Entry
“Spoiled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spoiled. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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