as in spoiled
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in rotting
Related Words
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
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of spoiling
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
Sure, he’s driven by vengeance and ruthless in his pursuit, but — without spoiling anything — his motivation is clouded at best, misplaced at worst.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 Apr. 2026
The ultimate scene packs a punch here — without spoiling things, Abigail Onwunali is particularly powerful in a role that Wilson saves till the eleventh hour, and Boone goes to places at once frightening and devastating.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2026
The Wilderness guides at Magashi Peninsula are well trained, the accommodation and food spoiling, and the wildlife sightings glorious.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
There is no dumber tradition that's come with this insufferable age of social media than spoiling draft picks.
—Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Here's a howler monkey spoiling for a fight.
—Heather Abbott, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
After cocktail hour, Carey arrived, staying out of the guests’ eyeline to avoid spoiling the surprise.
—Lindsey Underwood, Vanity Fair, 17 Apr. 2026
April 17's openers have little hope of spoiling Mario's party.
—Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
Food and drink Wilderness is known for serving polished but healthy modern bush fare that’s tasty and spoiling, but not overly rich.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
Fungal diseases arrive, spoiling those flawless leaves and blooms — and our serenity.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
Sure, he’s driven by vengeance and ruthless in his pursuit, but — without spoiling anything — his motivation is clouded at best, misplaced at worst.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 Apr. 2026
The ultimate scene packs a punch here — without spoiling things, Abigail Onwunali is particularly powerful in a role that Wilson saves till the eleventh hour, and Boone goes to places at once frightening and devastating.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2026
The Wilderness guides at Magashi Peninsula are well trained, the accommodation and food spoiling, and the wildlife sightings glorious.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
There is no dumber tradition that's come with this insufferable age of social media than spoiling draft picks.
—Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Here's a howler monkey spoiling for a fight.
—Heather Abbott, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
After cocktail hour, Carey arrived, staying out of the guests’ eyeline to avoid spoiling the surprise.
—Lindsey Underwood, Vanity Fair, 17 Apr. 2026
April 17's openers have little hope of spoiling Mario's party.
—Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spoiling
Adjective
-
My girl's gonna get spoiled — that's for sure — from Aunt Julianne.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
3 May 2026
-
Ann and Pat later moved to a 10-acre farm east of Franktown, where Schrader gardened, raised hens, spoiled cats and hoisted 50-pound bales of hay among other chores for the family’s eight horses.—
Billie Stanton,
Denver Post,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ancient lava fields can be seen as dark lunar maria marring the silvery lunar surface, which themselves are threaded with bright streaks of reflective debris strewn across the surface by violent asteroid strikes.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The search was prompted by soil vapor sampling, an experimental technology that detected volatile organic compounds potentially associated with decomposing human remains — though the method remains unproven in criminal investigations.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
-
Carie Hallford was sentenced to 30 years for her role in a scheme that involved hiding nearly 200 decomposing bodies.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Besides their obvious beauty, wicker baskets are superior for storage (especially laundry), providing excellent ventilation that prevents mold and mildew from damaging your linens.—
Ashley Poskin,
Martha Stewart,
2 May 2026
-
Baking soda has a mild, yet abrasive texture that can lift out stains causing your tiles to look dull without damaging the surface.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
This is a hotel with romance and celebration in mind, whether that means marking a once-in-a-lifetime occasion or indulging a lifelong love of history, art, and design.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Their relationship is fascinating, and Guardiola often appears at the end of his tether, but the manager finally recognises that Cherki’s creative talents are worth indulging.—
Sam Lee,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Too much water can lead to rotten roots or fungal infections.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Demand is highest when the weather is at its worst, which subjects you to freezing temperatures and rotten road conditions.—
Kathy Kristof,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Decadence is sensuality and impotence, opulence and decay.—
Olivia Kan-Sperling,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
-
The human brain’s neurons experience similar modes of decay, and so, too, do our downstream behaviors.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
At a time of intensifying divisions at home, a depiction of Ecuador could offer an Edenic, new-world landscape free from the partisanship tainting Church’s New England landscapes.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Now, streaming is tainting the postseason.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spoiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spoiling. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
