as in spoiled
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Dissimilar Words
as in rotting
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in marring
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 decomposing
to go through decomposition
the meat has spoiled
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in damaging
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 indulging
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spoiling
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
Matthew Lee, Arkansas Online, 22 Mar. 2026
As Cuba’s economic crisis deepens and amid the fuel shortages and the blackouts, hospitals have been hard hit, leaving patients in the dark and medicine at risk of spoiling.
—Carmen Sesin, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
The city's residents are concerned about food spoiling and simply trying to maneuver in homes with no lighting.
—ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
The city’s residents are concerned about food spoiling and simply trying to maneuver in homes with no lighting.
—Milexsy Durán, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Suffering people The city’s residents are concerned about food spoiling and simply trying to maneuver in homes with no lighting.
—Milexsy Duran, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Yes, the Oscars were spoiling movies all over the place last night.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Unplugging these large appliances risks spoiling everything inside.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
But Ryan put the game away with a 7-0 spurt, spoiling Glenn's first trip to the state finals.
—Rick Cantu, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
Noun
The spa With its indoor/outdoor hydrotherapy pool giving onto a pleasant sun terrace as well as an art-deco style indoor pool with an adjacent bar, this is a spoiling spa whatever the season.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
Many of the nation's 11 million residents struggle to keep food from spoiling.
—Matthew Lee, Arkansas Online, 22 Mar. 2026
As Cuba’s economic crisis deepens and amid the fuel shortages and the blackouts, hospitals have been hard hit, leaving patients in the dark and medicine at risk of spoiling.
—Carmen Sesin, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
The city's residents are concerned about food spoiling and simply trying to maneuver in homes with no lighting.
—ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
The city’s residents are concerned about food spoiling and simply trying to maneuver in homes with no lighting.
—Milexsy Durán, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Suffering people The city’s residents are concerned about food spoiling and simply trying to maneuver in homes with no lighting.
—Milexsy Duran, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Yes, the Oscars were spoiling movies all over the place last night.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Unplugging these large appliances risks spoiling everything inside.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
But Ryan put the game away with a 7-0 spurt, spoiling Glenn's first trip to the state finals.
—Rick Cantu, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spoiling
Adjective
-
Skenes was chased in the first inning earlier in the day by the Mets — as 76ers star Joel Embiid mocked the Pirates ' ace on social media — while Sánchez never pitched into a serious jam against Texas and spoiled manager Skip Schumaker's Texas debut.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
For years, lawyers have alleged that inmates receive expired, undercooked or contaminated food, including spoiled meat and deteriorated dairy products.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The demoralizing graffiti marring the main entrance to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 360 Lenox Ave.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate, along with Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren, were ejected for fighting, marring what was an intriguing game between the top team in the Eastern Conference and the one featuring the NBA’s longest current win streak.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In the weeks that followed the cyclone, more than 20 decomposing bodies washed ashore in Italy and Libya while other human remains were spotted floating in the middle of the sea.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Detectives said the victim’s body had already begun decomposing.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Police say the semi truck driver went through a median wall, severely damaging it.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Photos on local media and social networks showed fallen trees in Zagreb, pulled out by their roots, some blocking streets or damaging parked cars.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The elder Junod gave off mixed messages, abusing his long-suffering wife while indulging his gifted son.—
Hamilton Cain,
Time,
3 Mar. 2026
-
There’s a conversation for Nebraska worth indulging this spring.—
Mitch Sherman,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Something smells rotten in Denmark — that is, Tallahassee.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The exoplanet's atmosphere contains gases like water, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide -- which can smell like rotten eggs, especially when burned.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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If a single atom of that sample decays, the vial breaks, and the cat dies.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The universe, however, consists of matter but almost no antimatter, which exists naturally only in small quantities, created by radioactive decay and cosmic ray collisions.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Played by cisgender actress Kathleen Turner, Charles proved to be one of the more divisive characters from Friends, tainting its cultural legacy for some critics.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Infected people and dogs had to be prevented from tainting water sources.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spoiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spoiling. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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