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   spoil

   /spɔɪl/

   verb

   • 1. diminish or destroy the value or quality of: "I wouldn't want to spoil your fun" Similar mardamageimpairblemishdisfigureblightflawdefacescarinjureharmruindestroywreckbe a blot on the landscaperare:disfeatureOpposite improveenhance
   • ▪ prevent someone from enjoying (an occasion or event): "she was afraid of spoiling Christmas for the rest of the family" Similar ruinwreckdestroyupsetundomess upmake a mess ofdashsabotagescupperscotchtorpedoblastvitiatecast a shadow overcast a pall overclouddarkentake the shine offput a damper ontake the enjoyment/pleasure out oftake the edge offupset someone's apple cartcook someone's gooseinformal:foul uplouse upmuck upqueerscrew upput the kibosh onbanjaxblow a hole indo fornixcock updishmullerqueer someone's pitchthrow a spanner in the works ofrain on someone's paradethrow a monkey wrench in the works ofcrueleuchrevulgar slang:fuck upbugger upballs uparchaic:bring to naughtOpposite furtherhelpenhance
   • ▪ mark (a ballot paper) incorrectly so as to make one's vote invalid, especially as a gesture of protest: British "the group called on its supporters to spoil their papers"
   • ▪ (of food) become unfit for eating: "I've got some ham that'll spoil if we don't eat it tonight" Similar go badgo offgo rancidturngo soursourgo mouldymoulderbecome addledcurdlebecome rottenrotperishdecomposedecayputrefyOpposite keep
   • 2. harm the character of (someone, especially a child) by being too lenient or indulgent: "the last thing I want to do is spoil Thomas" Similar overindulgepamperindulgemollycoddlecossetcoddlebabyspoon-feedwait on hand and footcater to someone's every whimoverparentkill with kindnessnannynursemaiddote onwrap in cotton woolfeather-bedarchaic:cockerOpposite neglecttreat harshlybe strict with
   • ▪ treat with great or excessive kindness, consideration, or generosity: "breakfast in bed—you're spoiling me!"
   • 3. be extremely or aggressively eager for: "Cooper was spoiling for a fight"
   • 4. rob (a person or a place) of goods or possessions by force or violence: archaic "the enemy entered into Hereford, spoiled and fired the city, and razed the walls to the ground"

   noun

   • 1. goods stolen or taken forcibly from a person or place: "the looters carried their spoils away"
   • 2. waste material brought up during the course of an excavation or a dredging or mining operation: "colliery spoil"

   Word Origin Middle English (in the sense ‘to plunder’): shortening of Old French espoille (noun), espoillier (verb), from Latin spoliare, from spolium ‘plunder, skin stripped from an animal’, or a shortening of despoil.

   Scrabble Points: 7

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2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishSPOIL | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   SPOIL definition: 1. to destroy or reduce the pleasure, interest, or beauty of something: 2. When food spoils or is…. Learn more.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › spoilSpoil Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › spoil

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   1. a. : to damage seriously : ruin. b. : to impair the quality or effect of. a quarrel spoiled the celebration. 2. a. : to impair the disposition or character of by overindulgence or excessive praise. b. : to pamper excessively : coddle. 3. a.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › spoilSPOIL Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › spoil

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   Spoil definition: to damage severely or harm (something), especially with reference to its excellence, value, usefulness, etc.. See examples of SPOIL used in a sentence.

5. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishspoil verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   (saying) to cause something good to fail because you did not spend a small but necessary amount of money or time on a small but essential part of it. too many cooks spoil the broth. (saying) if too many people are involved in doing something, it will not be done well.

6. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishSPOIL definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   5 days ago · 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.

7. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › spoilSpoil - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › spoil

   When you spoil something, you destroy it or ruin its quality. If you spoil a surprise, you tell the secret you were supposed to keep. When you spoil something, you mess it up, like spoiling someone's good mood by bringing up a painful memory.

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishSPOILS | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   SPOILS definition: 1. goods, advantages, profits, etc. that you get by your actions or because of your position or…. Learn more.

9. www.thefreedictionary.com › spoilSpoil - definition of spoil by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › spoil

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   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.

10. www.dictionary.com › browse › spoilSpoil Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

    www.dictionary.com › browse › spoil

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    to impair, damage, or harm the character or nature of (someone) by unwise treatment, excessive indulgence, etc.: to spoil a child by pampering him.

11. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › spoilspoil | meaning of spoil in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary...

    www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › spoil

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    spoil meaning, definition, what is spoil: to have a bad effect on something so tha...: Learn more.