spoil

/spaɪl/

Definitions

1. verb

to damage or ruin something by careless or foolish action

“She spoiled the dress by spilling wine on it.”

2. verb

to spoil or corrupt something, especially by luxury or excess

“He spoiled his children by giving them everything they wanted.”

3. noun

a luxurious or extravagant object or thing

“The new mansion was a spoil of the wealthy businessman.”

4. noun

a thing, especially a valuable one, that is obtained or gained

“The discovery of the new island was a great spoil for the explorer.”

5. verb

to make something stale or unsellable by storing it for too long

“The bakery spoiled the bread by leaving it out for too long.”

6. noun

a spoil of war, especially a valuable thing obtained by a military force

“The spoils of war were paraded through the city as a victory celebration.”

7. verb

to make something unpleasant or less enjoyable

“The noisy crowd spoiled the concert for me.”

Synonyms

  • corrupt
  • damage
  • ruin

Antonyms

  • conserve
  • preserve