as in decomposition
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances
in the days before refrigeration, spoilage was a constant problem
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Recent Examples of spoilage
Excess moisture can accelerate spoilage so place the cucumbers on a paper towel or keep them in a breathable container.
—
Christine Fiorentino, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Dec. 2025
His team found additives like borax in meat to disguise spoilage, formaldehyde added to milk, and coal-tar dyes used in candy, all of which posed serious health risks.
—Ben Baumann, IndyStar, 5 Dec. 2025
Dyson sales are few and far between, save for the spoilage we get served ahead of the holidays.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 29 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, Sjodin adds, a Swiss institute has deployed the COMSOL surrogate system as an app for Indian farmers to predict food spoilage in cold storage.
—Margo Anderson, IEEE Spectrum, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spoilage
Christine Fiorentino, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Dec. 2025
His team found additives like borax in meat to disguise spoilage, formaldehyde added to milk, and coal-tar dyes used in candy, all of which posed serious health risks.
—Ben Baumann, IndyStar, 5 Dec. 2025
Dyson sales are few and far between, save for the spoilage we get served ahead of the holidays.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 29 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, Sjodin adds, a Swiss institute has deployed the COMSOL surrogate system as an app for Indian farmers to predict food spoilage in cold storage.
—Margo Anderson, IEEE Spectrum, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spoilage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spoilage
Noun
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The body of a month-old boy found in a duffel bag stuffed in a closet inside his family’s apartment was in an advanced state of decomposition — and his mother told cops her son hadn’t been home for at least two weeks before being arrested for hiding his corpse, prosecutors said.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
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The Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office determined at the time that Schlake drowned, but his body was in such a state of decomposition that officials could not immediately identify him, said Adam Linhardt, spokesman for the sheriff’s office.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In the steppe everything crumbles and decays.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
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However, a crack can expose a tree to fungal infection or decay, which could lead to the tree dying.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spoilage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spoilage. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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