spoil

²spoil

verb

spoiled\ˈspȯi(-ə)ld, ˈspȯi(-ə)lt\ also spoilt\ˈspȯi(-ə)lt\spoil·ing

Definition of SPOIL

transitive verb

1

a archaic : despoil, strip b : pillage, rob

2

archaic : to seize by force

3

a : to damage seriously : ruin b : to impair the quality or effect of <a quarrel spoiled the celebration>

4

a : to impair the disposition or character of by overindulgence or excessive praise b : to pamper excessively : coddle

intransitive verb

1

: to practice plunder and robbery

2

: to lose valuable or useful qualities usually as a result of decay <the fruit spoiled>

3

: to have an eager desire <spoiling for a fight>

— spoil·able \ˈspȯi-lə-bəl\ adjective

Examples of SPOIL

1. The fight spoiled the party.
2. The camping trip was spoiled by bad weather.
3. Don't let one mistake spoil your day.
4. Don't spoil your appetite by snacking too much.
5. Exposure to air will spoil the wine.
6. I spoiled the sauce by adding too much garlic.
7. The milk was beginning to spoil.
8. The hotel spoils their guests with fine dining and excellent service.
9. She always spoils me on my birthday.
10. You should spoil yourself with a day at the spa.

Origin of SPOIL

Middle English, from Anglo-French espuiller, espoiller, from Latin spoliare to strip of natural covering, despoil, from spolium skin, hide — more at spill

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SPOIL

Synonyms: blemish, darken, mar, poison, taint, stain, tarnish, touch, vitiate

Antonyms: doctor, fix, mend, patch, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, renovate, repair, revamp

Related Words: begrime, besmear, besmirch, blacken, blur, cloud, dirty, discolor, pollute, smear, smirch, smudge, smut, soil, sully, tar; abase, cheapen, debase, degrade, demean, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, foul, lower, shame, sink; bastardize, corrupt, debauch, demoralize, deprave, pervert, subvert; color, distort, twist

Near Antonyms: cleanse, purify; dignify, elevate, ennoble, enshrine, glorify, hallow, magnify, uplift

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at decay, indulge

Rhymes with SPOIL

boil, broil, coil, foil, moil, oil, royal, soil, toil