spoil

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.

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.

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.

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

   It was obvious that he was spoiling for a fight.

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. to have an aggressive desire for (a fight, etc)

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

More idioms and phrases containing spoil

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