1
as in marring
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
too much coddling will spoil the child
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decomposing
to go through decomposition
the meat has spoiled
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in damaging
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
know when to stop, for an unnecessary brushstroke can spoil a painted portrait
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in indulging
to treat with great or excessive care
when they were newlyweds, the wife tended to spoil her husband, but she soon got over that
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in spoiled
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in rotting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spoiling
Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
For the party’s new leadership, running Libertarian candidates and providing an outlet for their voters’ political perspective isn’t spoiling.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025
San Clemente came away with a mild upset victory over the Griffins on Friday, spoiling what could have been a showdown between two undefeated teams.
—Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 25 Oct. 2025
Finally, without spoiling anything, the military plays a very large part in this story.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
The sheets will absorb excess moisture, which will prevent your fruits and veggies spoiling quickly.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
Aza is a particularly violent individual who seeks out her former cult, while Marisol, let’s say to avoid spoiling anything, contains multitudes.
—Jason Fanelli, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
Pasteurization of milk used for pumpkin spice beverages or apple cider reduces bacteria and can delay spoiling.
—Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 21 Oct. 2025
This isn’t some crytpic way of talking about what happens without spoiling it, about some sort of self-realization.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
Without spoiling anything, Liberation’s ending doesn't quite stick the landing either.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
For the party’s new leadership, running Libertarian candidates and providing an outlet for their voters’ political perspective isn’t spoiling.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025
San Clemente came away with a mild upset victory over the Griffins on Friday, spoiling what could have been a showdown between two undefeated teams.
—Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 25 Oct. 2025
Finally, without spoiling anything, the military plays a very large part in this story.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
The sheets will absorb excess moisture, which will prevent your fruits and veggies spoiling quickly.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
Aza is a particularly violent individual who seeks out her former cult, while Marisol, let’s say to avoid spoiling anything, contains multitudes.
—Jason Fanelli, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
Pasteurization of milk used for pumpkin spice beverages or apple cider reduces bacteria and can delay spoiling.
—Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 21 Oct. 2025
This isn’t some crytpic way of talking about what happens without spoiling it, about some sort of self-realization.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spoiling
Verb
-
Including playoffs, Mayfield turned the ball over more than anyone else from 2023 through 2024, marring an otherwise fantastic two seasons in Tampa Bay.—
Jacob Robinson,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
-
An optional front rack on both models adds instant utility without marring the retro-fantastic looks.—
William Roberson,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Bugs and scientists have long been oddball allies in the effort to understand decomposing bodies, but there's a catch.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The round spots seemed neat compared with their surroundings, clear of the layers of decomposing plankton spotted elsewhere on the seafloor.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Many on the left have been in an uproar of late, accusing Trump of damaging White House history as construction begins on a new White House ballroom.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
25 Oct. 2025
-
People have filmed themselves shaving their heads, damaging property, ripping up passports and setting themselves on fire, The Sun reported, citing Ekaterina Mizulina, head of the Safe Internet League.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But Septime Webre’s choreography is supposed to have the air of wild and sometimes frenzied social dancing, of Charlestons and Fox Trots and Black Bottoms, of indulging the glorious excesses of the 1920s before the greedier side of the American Dream comes crashing down a few years later.—
David Lyman,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The other people Ye tries to big-foot into indulging his perverse Peter Pan complex fare more poorly.—
Derek Robertson,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Skip any skins that look moldy, blackened, or spoiled.—
Cathy Cassata,
Health,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The spoiled food was brought onboard by a customer and was not related to in-flight food or drinks, according to the company.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In its new filing, Mangione’s defense team expressed concern about tainting the pool of prospective jurors.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
17 Oct. 2025
-
In the end, when Malcolm pulls out a sword on him, Brian is given little choice but to kill Malcolm in front of Ellen in the ensuing battle, tainting the start of the happy couple’s life together.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The rotting corpse flower’s putrid stench cast a spell Thursday across Roseville High School’s campus.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Churches, libraries, and houses stand splintered and rotting next to posh tourist resorts, the aftermath of 2017’s Hurricane Maria.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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He was officially charged with boating under the influence, including causing the death of Mallory and seriously injuring two other passengers.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Under state statute, the owner of a dog is liable for the full amount of damages their animal has caused by injuring or causing injury to a person, domestic animal or property.—
Anna Kleiber,
jsonline.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spoiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spoiling. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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