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
Phil Hay, New York Times, 2 May 2025
But as these four moguls try to enjoy their spoils, their phones soon start blowing up with news of crises around the world — financial collapse, political instability, violence in the streets, all that good stuff.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 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
By a quirk of fate, the Europa League is throwing together two clubs and two coaches who need the trophy and the spoils from it badly.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 2 May 2025
But as these four moguls try to enjoy their spoils, their phones soon start blowing up with news of crises around the world — financial collapse, political instability, violence in the streets, all that good stuff.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
However, Cleveland can still spoil a potential playoff run for Washington.
—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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spoil
Noun
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A lot of casuals were turned off by the entire extraction shooter concept of losing loot or unbalanced fights.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
-
Although backpacks can be upgraded to house more loot, most of what’s found will quickly fill up your inventory after just a couple of minutes searching.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
2 May 2025
Verb
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About 26,500 of those who consume food tainted by salmonella are hospitalized.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2025
-
The role of politics Accusations that human rights advocacy is tainted by domestic politics aren’t new.—
Simon Montlake,
Christian Science Monitor,
16 May 2025
Verb
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The company suggests that AWS Transform can decompose monolithic z/OS COBOL applications into components that can be run in the cloud.—
Adrian Bridgwater,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
-
The smell, an odor like rotten eggs, is the sargassum piles decomposing, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The fire began on the third floor, severely damaging the entire level, while water damage affected the floors below.—
Samantha Moilanen,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2025
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In addition to direct contact, Toxoplasma may also damage sperm because the infection promotes chronic inflammation.—
Bill Sullivan,
The Conversation,
28 May 2025
Verb
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Their admirably robust menu indulges coastal cravings via seasonal oysters and Gulf shrimp while appeasing land lovers with steakhouse favorites and handmade pastas.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
26 May 2025
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This multicultural circus indulges the racial stereotyping that should be Hwang’s subject.—
Armond White,
National Review,
21 May 2025
Noun
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Last month, in another headline-grabbing food plunder, 100,000 organic eggs were taken from a distribution trailer in Pennsylvania.—
Adeel Hassan,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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Such tactics included the extraordinary plunder and destruction of the Hundred Years’ War and the fire bombings of cities in World War II.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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However, relatively decent growth fueled by Putin's record military spending has been marred by inflation and a worker shortage impacted by those fleeing the draft and troop losses in Ukraine as experts warn of longer terms problems for the economy.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 May 2025
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Lynch’s first winter as CEO was marred by long lift lines and employee shortages driven by COVID-19.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
27 May 2025
Verb
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Mohammadi works with materials that disintegrate, for instance halva, soap, letting their ephemerality echo the fragility of memory.—
Nargess Banks,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
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Toward the end of the movie, Bob’s house of shame disintegrates.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spoil. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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