spoil

verb

ˈspȯi(-ə)l 

spoiled ˈspȯi(-ə)ld  ˈspȯi(-ə)lt  or chiefly British spoilt ˈspȯi(-ə)lt  ; spoiling

transitive verb

1

a

: to damage seriously : ruin

b

: to impair the quality or effect of

a quarrel spoiled the celebration

2

a

: to impair the disposition or character of by overindulgence or excessive praise

b

: to pamper excessively : coddle

3

a

: pillage, rob

b

archaic : despoil, strip

4

archaic : to seize by force

intransitive verb

1

: to lose valuable or useful qualities usually as a result of decay

the fruit spoiled

2

: to have an eager desire

spoiling for a fight

3

: to practice plunder and robbery

spoilable

ˈspȯi-lə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms of spoil

• taint
• mar
• poison
• stain
• darken
• touch

Choose the Right Synonym for spoil

decay, decompose, rot, putrefy, spoil mean to undergo destructive dissolution.

decay implies a slow change from a state of soundness or perfection.

a decaying mansion

decompose stresses a breaking down by chemical change and when applied to organic matter a corruption.

the strong odor of decomposing vegetation

rot is a close synonym of decompose and often connotes foulness.

fruit was left to rot in warehouses

putrefy implies the rotting of animal matter and offensiveness to sight and smell.

corpses putrefying on the battlefield

spoil applies chiefly to the decomposition of foods.

keep the ham from spoiling

indulge, pamper, humor, spoil, baby, mollycoddle mean to show undue favor to a person's desires and feelings.

indulge implies excessive compliance and weakness in gratifying another's or one's own desires.

indulged myself with food at the slightest excuse

pamper implies inordinate gratification of desire for luxury and comfort with consequent enervating effect.

pampered by the amenities of modern living

humor stresses a yielding to a person's moods or whims.

humored him by letting him tell the story

spoil stresses the injurious effects on character by indulging or pampering.

foolish parents spoil their children

baby suggests excessive care, attention, or solicitude.

babying students by grading too easily

mollycoddle suggests an excessive degree of care and attention to another's health or welfare.

refused to mollycoddle her malingering son

Examples of spoil in a Sentence

The fight spoiled the party.

The camping trip was spoiled by bad weather.

Don't let one mistake spoil your day.

Don't spoil your appetite by snacking too much.

Exposure to air will spoil the wine.

I spoiled the sauce by adding too much garlic.

The milk was beginning to spoil.

The hotel spoils their guests with fine dining and excellent service.

She always spoils me on my birthday.

You should spoil yourself with a day at the spa.

Recent Examples on the Web

Culpepper allowed four hits in his two innings of work, including a ninth-inning homer to spoil the shutout, while striking out four to secure the lopsided victory. —Staff Report, Twin Cities, 29 May 2026

But while unopened alcohol may not spoil, the flavor and color can change for the worse over time. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 29 May 2026

Telling more than that spoils what happens. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 28 May 2026

This expansion has been rumored/teased for a long while now, and it was set to release during a streaming event tomorrow, but its own launcher spoiled the fun by putting up the announcement early. —Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French espuiller, espoiller, from Latin spoliare to strip of natural covering, despoil, from spolium skin, hide — more at spill entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3b

Rhymes for spoil

• boil
• broil
• coil
• foil
• oil
• roil
• soil
• toil
• voile
• aerofoil
• cinquefoil
• hydrofoil

Kids Definition

spoil

1 of 2 noun

ˈspȯi(ə)l 

: stolen goods : plunder

spoil

2 of 2 verb

spoiled ˈspȯi(ə)ld 

ˈspȯi(ə)lt

also spoilt ˈspȯi(ə)lt  ; spoiling

1

: plunder entry 2, rob

2

a

: to damage badly : ruin

spoiled my new sweater

b

: to damage the quality or effect of

a quarrel spoiled the party

c

: to decay or lose freshness, value, or usefulness by being kept too long

the milk spoiled

3

: to damage the disposition of by letting get away with too much

spoil a child

4

: to have an eager desire

spoiling for a fight