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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.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › spoil_1spoil verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › spoil_1

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   spoil. verb. /spɔɪl/ Verb Forms. [transitive] spoil something to change something good into something bad, unpleasant, useless, etc. synonym ruin Our camping trip was spoiled by bad weather. Don't let him spoil your evening. The tall buildings have spoiled the view.

3. 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.

4. www.wordreference.com › definition › spoilspoil - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

   www.wordreference.com › definition › spoil

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   to damage severely or harm (something), esp. with reference to its excellence, value, usefulness, etc.: The water stain spoiled the painting. Drought spoiled the corn crop. to diminish or impair the quality of; affect detrimentally: Bad weather spoiled their vacation.

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

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   Definition of spoil noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

6. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › spoilingSpoiling Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › spoiling

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   1. a. : to damage seriously : ruin. b. : to impair the quality or effect of. a quarrel spoiled the celebration. 2. a. : to impair the disposition or character of by overindulgence or excessive praise. b. : to pamper excessively : coddle. 3. a. : pillage, rob. b. archaic : despoil, strip.

7. www.wordsmyth.netspoil | Dictionaries and vocabulary tools for English ...

   www.wordsmyth.net

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   Definition of spoil. English dictionary and integrated thesaurus for learners, writers, teachers, and students with advanced, intermediate, and beginner levels.

8. www.oed.com › dictionary › spoil_v1spoil, v.¹ meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English ...

   www.oed.com › dictionary › spoil_v1

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   What does the verb spoil mean? There are 34 meanings listed in OED's entry for the verb spoil , 14 of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.