SPOIL Synonyms: 247 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'spoil' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of spoil are booty , loot , plunder , prize , and spoils . While all these words mean "something taken from another by force or craft," spoil , more commonly spoils , applies to what belongs by right or custom to the victor in war or political contest. // the spoils of political victory

Q: When would 'booty' be a good substitute for 'spoil'?

Although the words booty and spoil have much in common, booty implies plunder to be shared among confederates. // thieves dividing up their booty

Q: When is it sensible to use 'loot' instead of 'spoil'?

The words loot and spoil are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, loot applies especially to what is taken from victims of a catastrophe. // picked through the ruins for loot

Q: When is 'plunder' a more appropriate choice than 'spoil'?

The synonyms plunder and spoil are sometimes interchangeable, but plunder applies to what is taken not only in war but in robbery, banditry, grafting, or swindling. // a bootlegger's plunder

Q: In what contexts can 'prize' take the place of 'spoil'?

While in some cases nearly identical to spoil , prize applies to spoils captured on the high seas or territorial waters of the enemy. // the wartime right of seizing prizes at sea

spoil 1 of 2

verb

ˈspȯi(-ə)l

Definition of spoil

as in to taint

to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable too much coddling will spoil the child

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to decompose

to go through decomposition the meat has spoiled

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

spoil

2 of 2

noun

as in loot

valuables stolen or taken by force the bandits escaped with their lives but not with the spoils

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How does the noun spoil differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of spoil are booty, loot, plunder, prize, and spoils. While all these words mean "something taken from another by force or craft," spoil, more commonly spoils, applies to what belongs by right or custom to the victor in war or political contest.

the spoils of political victory

When would booty be a good substitute for spoil?

Although the words booty and spoil have much in common, booty implies plunder to be shared among confederates.

thieves dividing up their booty

When is it sensible to use loot instead of spoil?

The words loot and spoil are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, loot applies especially to what is taken from victims of a catastrophe.

picked through the ruins for loot

When is plunder a more appropriate choice than spoil?

The synonyms plunder and spoil are sometimes interchangeable, but plunder applies to what is taken not only in war but in robbery, banditry, grafting, or swindling.

a bootlegger's plunder

In what contexts can prize take the place of spoil?

While in some cases nearly identical to spoil, prize applies to spoils captured on the high seas or territorial waters of the enemy.

the wartime right of seizing prizes at sea

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of spoil

Verb

Poor setup spoils a full experience While the day was meant to relive a tradition that brought music to KU’s campus, the ball was certainly dropped as far as the set-up goes. — Rashad Alexander october 7, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026 Even if profits come in strong for the index, rising bond yields could spoil the party. — Daren Fonda, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026

Noun

The common misconception, however, is to assume these only spoil food and beverage. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 5 Aug. 2026 Instead of lasting months in proper storage conditions, potatoes kept in the refrigerator spoil within a few weeks. — Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spoil

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spoil

Verb

That means if the sewage system backs up, the sink could be tainted.

— David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
Hahn told the Observer in 2020 that the scandal tainted televangelism broadly.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of taint

Verb

The evolution of land plants and the development of soil go hand in hand—as these pioneering plants, trees, and animals died and their decomposing remains were recycled on land, by fungi and the first soil invertebrates, modern soils began to form.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
Even poor Maggie the cat — the only living animal in Digger’s house and possibly one of the last living animals in the world — is decomposing in his arms, his sister (Sandra Hüller) says with a shudder.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of decompose

Verb

Miles said one of his friends made the decision to drop his early decision application to Cornell, not because of the incident itself, but for fear the school’s reputation would be damaged.

— Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
Insurance payouts for mortgaged homes damaged or destroyed by fires are typically not sent directly to homeowners but instead are held by lenders or servicers, who then disburse the funds in tranches as a home is rebuilt or repaired.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of damage

Verb

There was no mention of a funeral in Adrien’s letter, and for a moment, Adelaide indulged the thought of ordering a carriage for Moscow.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026
Accessories-wise, indulge your inner maximalist with some color-contrasting jewelry (or go simple with sleek silver).

— Corinne Pierre-Louis, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of indulge

Verb

Both Republicans had promoted the narrative that the 2020 election was marred by fraud.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
The tight finish came after a first half with see-saw action — mainly by Stewart — but was marred by whistles and questionable foul calls.

— Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of mar

Verb

Studying an intact oarfish is remarkably difficult because their bodies typically disintegrate into brittle segments upon death.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026
The white outer layer started to disintegrate before the audience’s eyes, eventually washing away to reveal a fire-red corseted bodysuit and miniskirt underneath—a pleasingly literal interpretation of the tour’s title.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of disintegrate

Verb

Monday's attack came a day after a Russian drone struck the village of Pisochyn in the Kharkiv district, killing three people and injuring nine others, including children, according to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
The script was about a last draft-pick NFL player who gets injured on his very first play and returns home to Alaska to become a fisherman.

— Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of injure

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splutters

spoil

spoilage

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Style

“Spoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spoil. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of spoil

verb

noun

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