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1. Dictionary

   spoil

   /spɔɪl/

   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 mouldymoulderbecome 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: "colliery spoil"

   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. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishSPOIL | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   to destroy or reduce the pleasure, interest, or beauty of something: He tried not to let the bad news spoil his evening. The oil spill has spoiled the whole beautiful coastline. spoil something for someone I haven't seen the film, so don't spoil it for me by telling me what happens.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › spoilSpoil Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › spoil

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   The meaning of SPOIL is to damage seriously : ruin. How to use spoil in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Spoil.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › spoilSPOIL Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › spoil

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   Spoil definition: to damage severely or harm (something), especially with reference to its excellence, value, usefulness, etc.. See examples of SPOIL used in a sentence.

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

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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

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

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   spoil is the general term: to spoil a delicate fabric. ruin implies doing completely destructive or irreparable injury: to ruin one's health. wreck implies a violent breaking up or demolition: to wreck oneself with drink; to wreck a building.

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

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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   SPOIL definition: 1. to stop something from being enjoyable or successful: 2. If you spoil a child, you let them…. Learn more.

8. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › spoilspoil | meaning of spoil in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary...

   www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › spoil

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   spoil meaning, definition, what is spoil: to have a bad effect on something so tha...: Learn more.

9. 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.

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

    www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › spoil

    When you spoil something, you destroy it or ruin its quality. If you spoil a surprise, you tell the secret you were supposed to keep. When you spoil something, you mess it up, like spoiling someone's good mood by bringing up a painful memory.

11. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › american_englishspoil verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › american_english

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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.