1
as in marring
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
too much coddling will spoil the child
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in spoiled
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in rotting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spoiling
Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 21 Oct. 2025
This isn’t some crytpic way of talking about what happens without spoiling it, about some sort of self-realization.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 21 Oct. 2025
And without spoiling anything, Morgan gets to do a lot more this time around.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
Arsenal host Chelsea in the coming weeks, a two-pronged opportunity for both spoiling and redemption.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
Soundcore reckons that the screen's large footprint should help prevent the odd gust of wind from spoiling the yard or pool party.
—New Atlas, 25 Sep. 2025
Following last season’s reunion-spoiling revelations about his father (ex-CIA operative Frank Harkness) and his father’s past (raising children to be super-soldiers), the galloping young stallion (played by Jack Lowden) hasn’t been able to screw his head on straight.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2025
But the battery also more than erases the size and weight advantage of the Air compared to Apple’s other phones, spoiling the Air's light weight and thin profile.
—Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
With Trump seemingly on side, Nandy knows GB News and Farage are spoiling for a fight.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 22 Sep. 2025
Noun
Pasteurization of milk used for pumpkin spice beverages or apple cider reduces bacteria and can delay spoiling.
—Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 21 Oct. 2025
This isn’t some crytpic way of talking about what happens without spoiling it, about some sort of self-realization.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 21 Oct. 2025
And without spoiling anything, Morgan gets to do a lot more this time around.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
Arsenal host Chelsea in the coming weeks, a two-pronged opportunity for both spoiling and redemption.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
Soundcore reckons that the screen's large footprint should help prevent the odd gust of wind from spoiling the yard or pool party.
—New Atlas, 25 Sep. 2025
Following last season’s reunion-spoiling revelations about his father (ex-CIA operative Frank Harkness) and his father’s past (raising children to be super-soldiers), the galloping young stallion (played by Jack Lowden) hasn’t been able to screw his head on straight.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2025
But the battery also more than erases the size and weight advantage of the Air compared to Apple’s other phones, spoiling the Air's light weight and thin profile.
—Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
With Trump seemingly on side, Nandy knows GB News and Farage are spoiling for a fight.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spoiling
Verb
-
Including playoffs, Mayfield turned the ball over more than anyone else from 2023 through 2024, marring an otherwise fantastic two seasons in Tampa Bay.—
Jacob Robinson,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
-
An optional front rack on both models adds instant utility without marring the retro-fantastic looks.—
William Roberson,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Another legend explains how in the distant past, the nefarious Lake Nyos was formed from the decomposing body of a Kom chief whose people had been tricked and murdered by the Bamessi tribe.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Thatch is made up of decomposing grass stems and roots on the soil surface.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Many on the left have been in an uproar of late, accusing Trump of damaging White House history as construction begins on a new White House ballroom.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
25 Oct. 2025
-
People have filmed themselves shaving their heads, damaging property, ripping up passports and setting themselves on fire, The Sun reported, citing Ekaterina Mizulina, head of the Safe Internet League.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The other people Ye tries to big-foot into indulging his perverse Peter Pan complex fare more poorly.—
Derek Robertson,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Whether that’s indulging Wes Anderson’s imagination (as a three-time member of his ever-growing ensemble) or producing her own projects, Johansson always manages to surprise.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The spoiled food was brought onboard by a customer and was not related to in-flight food or drinks, according to the company.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Bad gas often has a spoiled or sour smell.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In its new filing, Mangione’s defense team expressed concern about tainting the pool of prospective jurors.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
17 Oct. 2025
-
In the end, when Malcolm pulls out a sword on him, Brian is given little choice but to kill Malcolm in front of Ellen in the ensuing battle, tainting the start of the happy couple’s life together.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Gutters provide easy access to your home, and clogs can create moisture that leads to rotting wood that termites like.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Amir’s work and relationship start to suffer as he becomes obsessed with his rotting leg.—
Erik Piepenburg,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Interior offensive lineman Damien Lewis was back on the field Wednesday for the first time since injuring his shoulder on Thursday of last week.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Communists and Nazis clashed over the following weeks, killing and injuring hundreds.—
Time,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spoiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spoiling. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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