1
as in to taint
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
too much coddling will spoil the child
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2025
This past weekend, Delaware State beat North Carolina Central on the road for the first time since 1977, spoiling homecoming weekend.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025
Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Oct. 2025
There are also the unhelpful phone calls from her husband, telling her to enjoy the spoils of the crummy motel she’s forced to reside in due to said hole.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spoil
Verb
Plus, in the case that food gets neglected to the back of the fridge and does spoil, each piece is dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2025
This past weekend, Delaware State beat North Carolina Central on the road for the first time since 1977, spoiling homecoming weekend.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
But the culinary spoils of Pittsburgh go well beyond new restaurants.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Oct. 2025
There are also the unhelpful phone calls from her husband, telling her to enjoy the spoils of the crummy motel she’s forced to reside in due to said hole.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spoil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spoil
Verb
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Bonds and Clemens would be shoo-ins for the Hall had their careers in MLB not been tainted by the accusations.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
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In the letter, Radcliffe spoke out against Rowling’s comments and apologized to any Harry Potter fans who have since felt the novel and magical universe has been tainted by the author’s transphobic statements.—
Quispe López,
Them.,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Forensic entomology −the study of insects and arthropods on decomposing bodies − is crucial in homicide and death investigations, Musah told USA TODAY.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
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The round spots seemed neat compared with their surroundings, clear of the layers of decomposing plankton spotted elsewhere on the seafloor.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Just under two million Palestinians—virtually the entire population of Gaza—have been displaced since October 2023, many repeatedly, and Israeli forces have damaged or destroyed more than 90 percent of homes in the Strip.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
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This protection also works to protect plants that are marginally hardy in your area, such as hydrangeas blooming on old wood that may not bloom if their flower buds are damaged by cold.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Ready to indulge your sweet tooth?—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
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High-protein desserts can be a great way to indulge your sweet tooth, promote satiety (feeling satisfied after eating), balance blood sugar, and support muscle repair.—
Lauren Panoff,
Verywell Health,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Earlier in October, police said a group of thieves - including two dressed as construction workers - stole jewelry and loot worth millions of dollars before making their escape in broad daylight.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
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Players drop into a massive battle with 100 players, explore a massive world for powerful loot, and take down enemy squads through Battlefield’s signature gameplay experience.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Even now, plans are underway to determine how best to retire and deorbit the aging laboratory – which has been marred by air leaks and other issues – likely around 2030.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
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International rights groups have criticized the electoral process which has been marred by low voter turnout, a night curfew and internet shutdown as protesters have taken to the streets of major cities for the third day since election day.—
Martin K.N Siele,
semafor.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Ethan Hawke stars as Lorenz Hart of legendary songsmiths Rodgers & Hart as the prolific partnership disintegrates to his great dismay.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
17 Oct. 2025
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This difference sounds small, but preventing a few tenths of a degree of warming could keep polar ice caps from completely disintegrating, coral reefs from collapsing and other tipping points from triggering.—
Syris Valentine,
Scientific American,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The next day, however, a football-style tussle left him injured.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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The 2023 edition opened a month later as Israel intensified its bombing campaign on Gaza, which has since killed more than 67,000 people, injured another 170,000 and razed the Palestinian territory to the ground, prompting accusations of genocide, which Israel has strongly rejected.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spoil. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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