spoil

Study(18)

/spɔɪl/

verb 5noun 3

Collocations

(verb.) make sth useless/unsuccessful/not very good

ADV

completely, quite

The rainy weather quite spoiled our plans for a picnic at the beach.

rather, slightly, somewhat

VERB + SPOIL

mustn't, not be going to, not want to

We mustn't spoil the surprise by telling them what happens at the end.

be a pity to

Leaving the messy kitchen before guests arrive would be a pity to spoil the good impression.

try to

not let sth

We didn't let a few mistakes spoil our celebration last night.

(verb.) a child

PREP

with

The grandparents spoiled their grandchildren with special treats and lots of attention.

PHRASES

be completely/thoroughly/utterly spoilt

The teenager was completely spoilt after receiving expensive gifts for every occasion.

spoil sb rotten

Her parents spoil their youngest daughter rotten, buying her whatever she wants.

a spoilt brat/child

Definitions

verb

To strip (someone who has been killed or defeated) of arms or armour.

To strip or deprive (someone) of possessions; to rob, despoil.

All that herde hym wer amased and sayde: ys nott this he that spoylled them whych called on this name in Jerusalem?

To do her dye (quoth Vna) were despight, / And shame t'auenge so weake an enimy; / But spoile her of her scarlot robe, and let her fly.

To plunder, pillage (a city, country etc.).

Outlaws, which, lurking in woods, used to break forth to rob and spoil.

To carry off (goods) by force; to steal.

No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man.

They must likewise endeavour to be careful in looking after the rest of the Servants, that every one perform their duty in their several places, that they keep good hours in their up-rising and lying down, and that no Goods be either spoiled or embezelled.

To ruin; to damage in such a way as to make undesirable or unusable.

All this sun spoils me for vacations in the far North.

Spiritual pride […] spoils so many graces.

noun

Plunder taken from an enemy or victim.

Thoſe thouſand horſe shall ſweat with martiall ſpoyle Of conquered kingdomes, and of Cities ſackt, […]

The act of taking plunder from an enemy or victim; spoliation, pillage, rapine.

This countrey ſwarmes with vile outragious men, That liue by rapine and by lawleſſe ſpoile, Fit ſouldiers for the wicked Tamburlaine.

Material (such as rock or earth) removed in the course of an excavation, or in mining or dredging. Tailings. Such material could be utilised somewhere else.

In view of the decline in freight traffic, it was strange to hear from Mr. Lambert that there is "a continuing problem of supplying, particularly for the civil engineer, the number of wagons required for carrying construction materials and spoil for various works."

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — the act of stripping and taking by force

spoliation
spoilation
despoilation
despoilment
despoliation

noun — the act of spoiling something by causing damage to it

spoiling
spoilage

verb — alter from the original

corrupt

verb — make imperfect

verb — destroy and strip of its possession

verb — have a strong desire or urge to do something

itch

verb — make a mess of, destroy or ruin

verb — hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of

verb — treat with excessive indulgence

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

too many cooks spoil the broth

If too many people participate in a task, especially in a leading role, the task will not be done very well.

She professes to keep her own counsel; she says, and truly enough, that “Too many cooks spoil the broth.”

spare the rod and spoil the child

If one does not discipline a child, it will never learn obedience and good manners.

spare the rod, spoil the child

Alternative form of spare the rod and spoil the child.

spoil someone rotten

To overindulge someone, especially when it results in making them selfish and demanding.

Naylonfred had spoiled them rotten, making them selfish and demanding.

spoil somebody rotten

Alternative form of spoil someone rotten.

Example Bank

All that herde hym wer amased and sayde: ys nott this he that spoylled them whych called on this name in Jerusalem?

Wiktionary

To do her dye (quoth Vna) were despight, / And shame t'auenge so weake an enimy; / But spoile her of her scarlot robe, and let her fly.

Wiktionary

Roger, that rich Bishop of Salisbury,[…]spoiled of his goods by King Stephen, […]through grief ran mad, spoke and did he knew not what.

Wiktionary

Thoſe thouſand horſe shall ſweat with martiall ſpoyle Of conquered kingdomes, and of Cities ſackt, […]

Wiktionary

This countrey ſwarmes with vile outragious men, That liue by rapine and by lawleſſe ſpoile, Fit ſouldiers for the wicked Tamburlaine.

Wiktionary

In view of the decline in freight traffic, it was strange to hear from Mr. Lambert that there is "a continuing problem of supplying, particularly for the civil engineer, the number of wagons required

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, spoil is marked as archaic, obsolete. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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