as in spoiled
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as in rotting
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1
as in marring
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
too much coddling will spoil the child
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decomposing
to go through decomposition
the meat has spoiled
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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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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
Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
There is also a fear in Cuba that the developments in Venezuela could cause a deterioration of the quality of life because of power issues, including with spoiling food, trash and mosquitoes.
—Phil Helsel, NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
Going forward, decant items into air-tight containers or store some things (like bread) in the fridge or freezer to avoid spoiling prematurely.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Dec. 2025
Without spoiling things, Lusi tells THR that the duo worked on the backstory of their characters after getting the broad strokes from the show creators.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 23 Dec. 2025
Crosby, worried about spoiling his children, was famously strict.
—Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 23 Dec. 2025
The vinegar keeps the vegetables from spoiling.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 28 Nov. 2025
Wright, however, adds a coda that, without spoiling anything, introduces something extra to the zero-sum game.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2025
Pluribus crackles with terrific comic tension as Carol wakes up next to her dead partner, filled with grief yet spoiling for a fight.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
Butter crocks are designed with an air-tight seal and a separate space to store water at the bottom that prevents air from reaching the butter, which can lead to spoiling.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
There is also a fear in Cuba that the developments in Venezuela could cause a deterioration of the quality of life because of power issues, including with spoiling food, trash and mosquitoes.
—Phil Helsel, NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
Going forward, decant items into air-tight containers or store some things (like bread) in the fridge or freezer to avoid spoiling prematurely.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Dec. 2025
Without spoiling things, Lusi tells THR that the duo worked on the backstory of their characters after getting the broad strokes from the show creators.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 23 Dec. 2025
Crosby, worried about spoiling his children, was famously strict.
—Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 23 Dec. 2025
The vinegar keeps the vegetables from spoiling.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 28 Nov. 2025
Wright, however, adds a coda that, without spoiling anything, introduces something extra to the zero-sum game.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2025
Pluribus crackles with terrific comic tension as Carol wakes up next to her dead partner, filled with grief yet spoiling for a fight.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spoiling
Adjective
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What to Do With Overripe Pears Not to worry if pears are soft but not spoiled.—
Lynn Andriani,
Martha Stewart,
8 Jan. 2026
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The United Center cheers were nearly spoiled when Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy challenged the game-winner for an offside penalty.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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An optional front rack on both models adds instant utility without marring the retro-fantastic looks.—
William Roberson,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For nearly two weeks before embarking on the cross-country road trip, the teenager lived with his parents’ decomposing bodies.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
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The earthy scent of decomposing leaves and soil contributes to the smell.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
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If your hair is getting snagged while using the brush or seems to be damaging your hair, it should also be replaced.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
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The YouTuber-turned-boxer has been accused by a lot of people of damaging the sport by staging fights that are more bit than boxing.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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What’s gained by indulging our doom?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
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But Septime Webre’s choreography is supposed to have the air of wild and sometimes frenzied social dancing, of Charlestons and Fox Trots and Black Bottoms, of indulging the glorious excesses of the 1920s before the greedier side of the American Dream comes crashing down a few years later.—
David Lyman,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In a city in which the house always wins — and so many others lose and lose — the Raiders’ rotten run of futility is getting old.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
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Learn how to banish that rotten egg smell from your washer while keeping it fresh, clean, and odor-free.—
Lauren Bengtson,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Keep the mulch at least two inches away from woody stems to prevent decay and disease.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
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The Tyranids represent man's fear of the natural world, nature's inexorable ability to overwhelm, decay, and devour all of man's greatest works.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Judges typically allow for questioning of prospective jurors who may have a bias separately from the larger pool of jurors to avoid tainting others.—
John Diedrich,
jsonline.com,
12 Dec. 2025
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And there's also issues of tainting the jury pool.—
Stepheny Price , Michael Ruiz , Adam Sabes , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spoiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spoiling. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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