spoil

[ spoil ]

verb (used with object)

, spoiled or spoilt, spoil·ing.

1. to damage severely or harm (something), especially with reference to its excellence, value, usefulness, etc.: Drought spoiled the corn crop.

   The water stain spoiled the painting.

   Drought spoiled the corn crop.

   Synonyms: pamper, indulge, coddle, baby, harm, ruin, mar, injure, impair, disfigure, damage

2. to diminish or impair the quality of; affect detrimentally:

   Bad weather spoiled their vacation.

3. to impair, damage, or harm the character or nature of (someone) by unwise treatment, excessive indulgence, etc.:

   to spoil a child by pampering him.

4. Archaic. to strip (persons, places, etc.) of goods, valuables, etc.; plunder; pillage; despoil.
5. Archaic. to take or seize by force.

verb (used without object)

, spoiled or spoilt, spoil·ing.

1. to become bad, or unfit for use, as food or other perishable substances; become tainted or putrid:

   Milk spoils if not refrigerated.

2. to plunder, pillage, or rob.

noun

1. Often spoils. booty, loot, or plunder taken in war or robbery.
2. the act of plundering.
3. an object of plundering.
4. Usually spoils.
   1. the emoluments and advantages of public office viewed as won by a victorious political party:

      the spoils of office.

   2. prizes won or treasures accumulated:

      a child's spoils brought home from a party.

5. waste material, as that which is cast up in mining, excavating, quarrying, etc.
6. an imperfectly made object, damaged during the manufacturing process.

spoil

/ spɔɪl /

verb

1. tr to cause damage to (something), in regard to its value, beauty, usefulness, etc
2. tr to weaken the character of (a child) by complying unrestrainedly with its desires
3. intr (of perishable substances) to become unfit for consumption or use

   the fruit must be eaten before it spoils

4. intr sport to disrupt the play or style of an opponent, as to prevent him from settling into a rhythm
5. archaic.
   to strip (a person or place) of (property or goods) by force or violence
6. be spoiling for
   to have an aggressive desire for (a fight, etc)

noun

1. waste material thrown up by an excavation
2. any treasure accumulated by a person

   this gold ring was part of the spoil

3. obsolete.
   1. the act of plundering
   2. a strategically placed building, city, etc, captured as plunder

Other Words From

• spoil·a·ble adjective
• spoil·less adjective
• un·spoil·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spoil¹

First recorded in 1300–50; (verb) Middle English spoilen, from Old French espoillier, from Latin spoliāre “to despoil,” equivalent to spoli(um) “booty” + -āre infinitive suffix; (noun) derivative of the verb or from Old French espoille, derivative of espoillier

Word History and Origins

Origin of spoil¹

C13: from Old French espoillier, from Latin spoliāre to strip, from spolium booty

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. be spoiling for, Informal. to be very eager for; be desirous of:

   It was obvious that he was spoiling for a fight.

More idioms and phrases containing spoil

• spare the rod and spoil the child
• too many cooks spoil the broth
• to the victor belong the spoils

Synonym Study

Spoil, ruin, wreck agree in meaning to reduce the value, quality, usefulness, etc., of anything. 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.

Example Sentences

Frascone, however, does not have the endorsement of the Working Families Party, and Ana Maria Archila, the co-director of the New York Working Families Party, says that Frascone was recruited by Republicans to spoil the election for Jones.

From Salon

Now, Frascone is threatening to spoil the close election for Jones and some prognosticators have taken notice.

From Salon

Frascone, however, did not receive the party’s endorsement and the Working Families Party says that Frascone is a Republican plant running a "fake campaign" intended to spoil the race for the Democratic nominee, former Rep. Mondaire Jones, D-N.Y., who is facing Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y.

From Salon

“As much as they like to say ‘we’re not spoilers’ the strategy is threatening to spoil them.

From Salon

"Arnold starts dropping little hints early on that some supernatural or fantastical force is at work here, and it would spoil the movie to reveal too much," said the Hollywood Reporter's Leslie Felperin.

From BBC

Related Words

• destroy
• devastate
• harm
• impair
• mar
• tarnish
• undo
• upset
• wreck