SPOILS Synonyms: 248 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'spoils' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of spoils are booty , loot , plunder , prize , and spoil . While all these words mean "something taken from another by force or craft," spoil , more commonly spoils , applies to what belongs by right or custom to the victor in war or political contest. // the spoils of political victory

Q: When can 'booty' be used instead of 'spoils'?

In some situations, the words booty and spoils are roughly equivalent. However, booty implies plunder to be shared among confederates. // thieves dividing up their booty

Q: When is it sensible to use 'loot' instead of 'spoils'?

While the synonyms loot and spoils are close in meaning, loot applies especially to what is taken from victims of a catastrophe. // picked through the ruins for loot

Q: In what contexts can 'plunder' take the place of 'spoils'?

Although the words plunder and spoils have much in common, plunder applies to what is taken not only in war but in robbery, banditry, grafting, or swindling. // a bootlegger's plunder

Q: When might 'prize' be a better fit than 'spoils'?

The meanings of prize and spoils largely overlap; however, prize applies to spoils captured on the high seas or territorial waters of the enemy. // the wartime right of seizing prizes at sea

Q: How does the noun 'spoils' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of spoils are booty , loot , plunder , prize , and spoil . While all these words mean "something taken from another by force or craft," spoil , more commonly spoils , applies to what belongs by right or custom to the victor in war or political contest. // the spoils of political victory

Q: When can 'booty' be used instead of 'spoils'?

In some situations, the words booty and spoils are roughly equivalent. However, booty implies plunder to be shared among confederates. // thieves dividing up their booty

Q: When is it sensible to use 'loot' instead of 'spoils'?

While the synonyms loot and spoils are close in meaning, loot applies especially to what is taken from victims of a catastrophe. // picked through the ruins for loot

Q: In what contexts can 'plunder' take the place of 'spoils'?

Although the words plunder and spoils have much in common, plunder applies to what is taken not only in war but in robbery, banditry, grafting, or swindling. // a bootlegger's plunder

Q: When might 'prize' be a better fit than 'spoils'?

The meanings of prize and spoils largely overlap; however, prize applies to spoils captured on the high seas or territorial waters of the enemy. // the wartime right of seizing prizes at sea

spoils 1 of 2

noun

Definition of spoils next

plural of spoil

as in loots

valuables stolen or taken by force the bandits escaped with their lives but not with the spoils

Synonyms & Similar Words

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spoils

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of spoil

as in taints

to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable too much coddling will spoil the child

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in decomposes

to go through decomposition the meat has spoiled

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in damages

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

as in indulges

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun spoils differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of spoils are booty, loot, plunder, prize, and spoil. While all these words mean "something taken from another by force or craft," spoil, more commonly spoils, applies to what belongs by right or custom to the victor in war or political contest.

the spoils of political victory

When can booty be used instead of spoils?

In some situations, the words booty and spoils are roughly equivalent. However, booty implies plunder to be shared among confederates.

thieves dividing up their booty

When is it sensible to use loot instead of spoils?

While the synonyms loot and spoils are close in meaning, loot applies especially to what is taken from victims of a catastrophe.

picked through the ruins for loot

In what contexts can plunder take the place of spoils?

Although the words plunder and spoils have much in common, plunder applies to what is taken not only in war but in robbery, banditry, grafting, or swindling.

a bootlegger's plunder

When might prize be a better fit than spoils?

The meanings of prize and spoils largely overlap; however, prize applies to spoils captured on the high seas or territorial waters of the enemy.

the wartime right of seizing prizes at sea

How does the noun spoils differ from other similar words?

the spoils of political victory

When can booty be used instead of spoils?

In some situations, the words booty and spoils are roughly equivalent. However, booty implies plunder to be shared among confederates.

thieves dividing up their booty

When is it sensible to use loot instead of spoils?

While the synonyms loot and spoils are close in meaning, loot applies especially to what is taken from victims of a catastrophe.

picked through the ruins for loot

In what contexts can plunder take the place of spoils?

Although the words plunder and spoils have much in common, plunder applies to what is taken not only in war but in robbery, banditry, grafting, or swindling.

a bootlegger's plunder

When might prize be a better fit than spoils?

The meanings of prize and spoils largely overlap; however, prize applies to spoils captured on the high seas or territorial waters of the enemy.

the wartime right of seizing prizes at sea

Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of spoils

Noun

To the victor go the spoils, the adage tells us. —

Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026 New manager Derek Shelton inherits a strong, deep rotation that stretches into the Triple-A roster with Mick Abel and Taj Bradley — some of the spoils of the trade-deadline purge — but also a lot of young position players who struggled to score runs in August and September. —

John Shipley, Twin Cities, 23 Jan. 2026 Even the Hamburglar was there to help battle the British, and OK, burgle their burgers, the spoils of war. —

Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 21 Jan. 2026 Even fewer want American bombs dropping all over the globe, leaving a mess that will cost billions of taxpayer dollars to fix while oil executives get invited to meetings at the White House to split up the spoils. —

Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2026 If the offensive line deserved the MVP trophy in the Rose Bowl, the spoils should have gone to the defense here. —

Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026 Meanwhile, America’s poorest aren’t enjoying the spoils of their employers’ success. —

Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026 But who gets to enjoy the spoils of the new world? —

Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026 Recently recommissioned for a second season by Israeli broadcaster Kan, Pirates of Antiquities delves deep into the shadowy world of antiquities smuggling, where priceless historical treasures become the spoils of a race between robbers, dealers, and the archaeologists determined to stop them. —

Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026

Verb

But there was the Transformers actor, with his tattoos and pirate beard, behaving like the obnoxious guy at the bar who spoils everybody else’s night, getting into a fight, then continuing to party the next day after his high-profile arrest. —

James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026 This post spoils the entirety of Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1 (the first four episodes). —

Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026 Sinners leading all nominees by a record-breaking margin could shake up the Oscar race, which seemed destined to come down to One Battle After Another and Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet (the two films recently shared the Best Picture spoils at the Golden Globes). —

Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 22 Jan. 2026 With the victory spoils, Ruel collects A$50,000 ($33,700) courtesy of APRA AMCOS, Alberts and Sony Music Publishing. —

Lars Brandle, Billboard, 21 Jan. 2026 Nothing spoils a vacation faster than an ill-fitting pair of shoes. —

Michelle Baricevic, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2026 Conveniently located close to iconic sights, the downtown hotel spoils with a rooftop pool, buzzy restaurant, and bar in a sensory-rich, art-laden setting. —

Kathryn Streeter, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026 Pre-cut produce also spoils quicker and could pick up pathogens when sliced open. —

Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2025 That’s the kind of failing grade that ends drives and spoils red zone trips. —

Pete Sampson, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spoils

Verb

The film centered on the Environmental Protection Agency encasing the Simpsons’ hometown of Springfield in a dome after Homer taints the area’s water supply.

— Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2025

Definition of taints