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1. Dictionary

   Spoil

   /spoil/

   

   verb

   • 1. diminish or destroy the value or quality of: "I wouldn't want to spoil your fun" Similar mardamageimpairblemishdisfigureblightflawdefacescarinjureharmruindestroywreckbe a blot on the landscaperare:disfeatureOpposite improveenhance
   • ▪ prevent someone from enjoying (an occasion or event): "she was afraid of spoiling Christmas for the rest of the family" Similar ruinwreckdestroyupsetundomess upmake a mess ofdashsabotagescupperscotchtorpedoblastvitiatecast a shadow overcast a pall overclouddarkentake the shine offput a damper ontake the enjoyment/pleasure out oftake the edge offupset someone's apple cartcook someone's gooseinformal:foul uplouse upmuck upqueerscrew upput the kibosh onbanjaxblow a hole indo fornixcock updishmullerqueer someone's pitchthrow a spanner in the works ofrain on someone's paradethrow a monkey wrench in the works ofcrueleuchrevulgar slang:fuck upbugger upballs uparchaic:bring to naughtOpposite furtherhelpenhance
   • ▪ mark (a ballot paper) incorrectly so as to make one's vote invalid, especially as a gesture of protest: British "the group called on its supporters to spoil their papers"
   • ▪ (of food) become unfit for eating: "I've got some ham that'll spoil if we don't eat it tonight" Similar go badgo offgo rancidturngo soursourgo moldymolderbecome addledcurdlebecome rottenrotperishdecomposedecayputrefyOpposite keep
   • 2. harm the character of (someone, especially a child) by being too lenient or indulgent: "the last thing I want to do is spoil Thomas" Similar overindulgepamperindulgemollycoddlecossetcoddlebabyspoon-feedwait on hand and footcater to someone's every whimoverparentkill with kindnessnannynursemaiddote onwrap in cotton woolfeather-bedarchaic:cockerOpposite neglecttreat harshlybe strict with
   • ▪ treat with great or excessive kindness, consideration, or generosity: "breakfast in bed—you're spoiling me!"
   • 3. be extremely or aggressively eager for: "Cooper was spoiling for a fight"
   • 4. rob (a person or a place) of goods or possessions by force or violence: archaic "the enemy entered into Hereford, spoiled and fired the city, and razed the walls to the ground"

   noun

   • 1. goods stolen or taken forcibly from a person or place: "the looters carried their spoils away"
   • 2. waste material brought up during the course of an excavation or a dredging or mining operation.

   Word Origin Middle English (in the sense ‘to plunder’): shortening of Old French espoille (noun), espoillier (verb), from Latin spoliare, from spolium ‘plunder, skin stripped from an animal’, or a shortening of despoil.

   Scrabble Points: 7

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2. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › spoilSpoil - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › spoil

   Definitions of spoil. verb. make a mess of, destroy or ruin. synonyms: ball up, blow, bobble, bodge, bollix, bollix up, botch, botch up, bumble, bungle, butcher, flub, fluff, foul up, fumble, louse up, mess up, mishandle, muck up, muff, screw up. see more.

3. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishSPOIL definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   5 days ago · 1. verb. If you spoil something, you prevent it from being successful or satisfactory . It's important not to let mistakes spoil your life. [VERB noun] Peaceful summer evenings can be spoilt by mosquitoes. [be VERB -ed] Synonyms: ruin, destroy, wreck, damage More Synonyms of spoil. 2. verb.

4. www.thefreedictionary.com › spoilSpoil - definition of spoil by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › spoil

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   n. 1. spoils. a. Goods or property seized from a victim after a conflict, especially after a military victory. b. Incidental benefits reaped by a winner, especially political patronage enjoyed by a successful party or candidate. 2. An object of plunder; prey. 3. Refuse material removed from an excavation. 4.

5. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishspoil verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

   • Cached

   (saying) to cause something good to fail because you did not spend a small but necessary amount of money or time on a small but essential part of it. too many cooks spoil the broth. (saying) if too many people are involved in doing something, it will not be done well.

6. www.dictionary.com › browse › spoilSpoil Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › spoil

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   to impair, damage, or harm the character or nature of (someone) by unwise treatment, excessive indulgence, etc.: to spoil a child by pampering him.

7. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishSPOIL | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

   • Cached

   to stop something from being enjoyable or successful: The picnic was spoiled by the bad weather. I don't want to spoil the fun, but could you turn the music down a bit? Fewer examples. The burnt onions spoiled the flavour of the dish. His performance spoiled an otherwise excellent film.

8. en.m.wiktionary.org › wiki › spoilspoil - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

   en.m.wiktionary.org › wiki › spoil

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   Apr 11, 2024 · ( transitive) To reveal the ending or major events of (a story etc.); to ruin (a surprise) by exposing it ahead of time. ( aviation) To reduce the lift generated by an airplane or wing by deflecting air upwards, usually with a spoiler. Synonyms [ edit] (ruin): damage, destroy, ruin.