1
as in to taint
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
too much coddling will spoil the child
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spoil
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Mizzou had a chance to spoil the fun and put the national spotlight on Columbia.
—Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025
Since D’Angelo was now a star, there was nothing wrong with enjoying the spoils of success, right?
—Keith Murphy, VIBE.com, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spoil
Verb
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
Mizzou had a chance to spoil the fun and put the national spotlight on Columbia.
—Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
Emily ruins her stylish outfit with a giant Central Perk T-shirt, the spoils of war.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025
Since D’Angelo was now a star, there was nothing wrong with enjoying the spoils of success, right?
—Keith Murphy, VIBE.com, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spoil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spoil
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.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
6 Jan. 2026
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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.—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Investigators later searched the Ephrata home and storage unit of Jonathan Christ Gerlach, 34, and reported finding more than 100 human skulls, long bones, mummified hands and feet, two decomposing torsos and other skeletal items.—
Mark Scolforo,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
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For nearly two weeks before embarking on the cross-country road trip, the teenager lived with his parents’ decomposing bodies.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Stay away from windows as flying debris generated by damaging winds can be deadly.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
-
According to Brown, Hurricane Michael damaged 80 percent of the park’s namesake trees, but through a project with the Florida Park Service and Atlanta Botanical Garden, seeds obtained from living trees are being grown and planted in the ravine habitat at Torreya State Park.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Rather than shaming you for your preferences, Sohm will indulge your desires.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
6 Nov. 2025
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Here in the heart of the Alps, Rosita, who passed away in January, fully indulged her passion for mushrooms and foraging.—
Laura May Todd,
Architectural Digest,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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At first, you’re limited to your underground shelter, but the game soon expands and takes your dwellers topside, shaking things up with tense encounters and shiny loot, slowly turning your naïve vault dwellers into hardened survivors.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
15 Dec. 2025
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And, even as the robbers collected their loot -- allegedly stealing French crown jewels worth some $102 million -- the security staff at a bank of screens weren't yet focused on the camera catching the robbery, Corbin said.—
Tom Soufi Burridge,
ABC News,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
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This dynamic marred the 2012-13 Hurricane Sandy package and has recurred in other disaster bills, not because relief is illegitimate but because speed plus political cover invites provisions that would die in regular order.—
Veronique De Rugy,
Oc Register,
7 Nov. 2025
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Sook’s comments followed Nexstar’s report of quarterly results, which were marred by the absence of political advertising compared with the same quarter in 2024.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Dark Skies does an excellent job of using an alien threat as a metaphor for the pressures on the nuclear American family that lead to so many of them disintegrating.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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Over the years, the roof disintegrated and many of the windows are broken.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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When Dobbins was first injured, a source close to him said the best-case scenario for his return was if the Broncos made the Super Bowl.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
10 Jan. 2026
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Dellandrea was injured in the Sharks’ game on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets as his right leg struck the post after he was inadvertently tripped while driving to the net.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spoil. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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