1
as in to taint
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
too much coddling will spoil the child
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to decompose
to go through decomposition
the meat has spoiled
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to damage
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 to indulge
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
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Recent Examples of spoil
Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Fans of the original film have been very vocal about the costumes seen on set — with some expressing frustration about the sheer number of looks that have been spoiled thanks to the swarm of paparazzi.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Jerel Ezell, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Deathstalker, here a rogue warrior living off the spoils recovered in the wake of Dreadite attacks, takes a cursed amulet from a dead Prince on a battlefield.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spoil
Verb
Shelf-stable items are often the most plentiful in Burmese grocery stores in Milwaukee since they can be shipped across the world without refrigeration or concerns about spoiling.
—Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Fans of the original film have been very vocal about the costumes seen on set — with some expressing frustration about the sheer number of looks that have been spoiled thanks to the swarm of paparazzi.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
Along the way, commentators have scuttled important details, understating or overstating the movement's potential spoils and perils.
—Jerel Ezell, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Deathstalker, here a rogue warrior living off the spoils recovered in the wake of Dreadite attacks, takes a cursed amulet from a dead Prince on a battlefield.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spoil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spoil
Verb
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Buggs’ public defender also suggested that Alameda County prosecutors’ case was tainted by that bias.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
6 Sep. 2025
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That Anniston’s offer is tainted is a given; that Charles is making a deal with a very bad man is obvious.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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O’Steen bludgeoned Marissa Grimes, dug a shallow grave for her under his house in west Fort Worth and for 10 days lived above where police later sawed open the floor to expose Grimes’ decomposing 135-pound body, prosecutors have argued that the evidence shows.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Sep. 2025
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Two people discovered badly decomposed human remains while doing a walkthrough of a home for sale in Ohio, police told news outlets.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Kansas City Star,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Washing a couch or sofa, professional carpet and upholstery cleaner Ben Brazell says, is more precarious than carpet cleaning because the upholstery is often a lot more expensive and much easier to damage.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
8 Sep. 2025
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Private homes, farm buildings and power lines were damaged, Gusev said.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Yes, perhaps firms run by alums will be willing to indulge a few interested faculty from their alma mater.—
Shivaram Rajgopal,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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At one point Wednesday, the judge indulged their request to meet with Adelson and the attorneys at a side bar out of the public’s earshot.—
Lauren del Valle,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The new Reclaim activity is lame and the new loot is hard to come by.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Those who didn’t score tickets can console themselves with Oasis Live ‘25 loot like $49 or $56 T-shirts, $49 to $104 hoodies and other memorabilia like $28 tote bags and $56 posters.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Boy Meets World — Savage’s comedy legacy has been marred by multiple misconduct allegations over the years.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
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Holes marred the walls in the kitchen under the dish machine, dry storage and dish storage rooms.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Before flight 10, Starship's most recent demonstration came on May 27, when the spacecraft spun out of control roughly halfway through its flight and disintegrated in a fireball.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
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The situation quickly disintegrated as Joseph Gerber, 45, who had an outstanding felony warrant, fired first and wounded Mancera.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The severity, healing and availability of Purdy’s toe will depend heavily on which toe is injured and what specific part of the toe got injured.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Almost certainly out this week also is injured receiver Xavier Worthy (shoulder), who provided most of the scant glimmers of hope in the Super Bowl with eight catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns.—
Vahe Gregorian,
Kansas City Star,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spoil. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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