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
Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2025
Another suggests the cache could be war spoils of Czechoslovak legionnaires.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 20 May 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
And bringing all these hustlers together is the greatest con artist of them all – a cunning macaque who feeds on the spoils from unsuspecting tourists.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2025
Another suggests the cache could be war spoils of Czechoslovak legionnaires.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 20 May 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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With that First Amendment right comes a responsibility not to destroy property, loot or condone violence, and a parallel responsibility by police and other law-enforcement not to overreact or overreach.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
13 June 2025
-
Subsequent versions have added additional planets, a reputation system, loot, and a host of other systems and features.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
2 June 2025
Verb
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It’s been 17 years since tainted blood thinner from China injured or killed hundreds of people in the United States, and since then, contaminants and other defects have appeared in a cross section of America’s generic drugs.—
Brandon Roberts,
ProPublica,
17 June 2025
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The woman was unavailable for an interview with USA TODAY because she was hospitalized. Untreated, Amy said the mental health condition’s fantastical conspiracies tainted her mom's decisions.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
16 June 2025
Verb
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Molasses is food for soil microbes—tiny living organisms like bacteria, fungi, and protozoa—that decompose organic matter, improve soil structure, and make nutrients available to plants, Fox says.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 June 2025
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The microbes perform vital functions like decomposing organic matter, improving water-holding capacity, cycling nutrients, and suppressing pathogens to improve plant resilience and overall soil health.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
24 May 2025
Verb
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There is radiological and chemical contamination at the Natanz facility, where an above-ground portion of the fuel enrichment plant was damaged after a military strike on June 13, International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi told the United Nations Security Council on Friday.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
21 June 2025
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Worn restorations: Dental fillings, crowns, and restorations can also become damaged or worn over time, exposing dentin and raising the risk of tooth decay.—
Mark Gurarie,
Health,
21 June 2025
Verb
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Starting June 26, guests can indulge with endless rounds of two appetizers at a time including Mozzarella Sticks, Onion Rings, Fried Pickles, Hatch Queso and Chips & Salsa.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
19 June 2025
-
That the shop has indulged families for decades speaks to its constancy.—
Mike Klingaman,
Baltimore Sun,
17 June 2025
Noun
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At the Jeu de Paume museum, Valland took many risks to safeguard its treasures and record the massive plunder of artwork across France.—
Pat Tompkins,
AFAR Media,
18 June 2025
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Trouble is, the elder Broadway managed to cheat St. Christopher out of his share of the plunder.—
Joe Leydon,
Variety,
13 June 2025
Verb
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Graffiti marred the exterior of City Hall, an Art Deco landmark built in 1928.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
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Signed in 2023 from Fenerbahce in his homeland, Guler’s debut season was marred by injuries.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
8 June 2025
Verb
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In its most recent demonstration May 27, Starship spun out of control roughly halfway through its flight and disintegrated in a fireball before achieving some of its most important objectives.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
3 June 2025
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Laura’s house is a messy, colorful disaster, reflecting a personality that was clearly once charmingly ditzy and has disintegrated into instability.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spoil. Accessed 24 Jun. 2025.
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