spoil

To damage something or make an experience less enjoyable.

• Don't spoil the surprise.
• Heavy rain spoiled our picnic.
• You will spoil the film for me if you reveal the ending.

How to use it: spoil something for someone (The noise spoiled the evening for everyone.)

Similar words: ruin, damage, wreck

Opposites: improve

Common phrases: spoil the fun, spoil a surprise, spoil someone's day

If food does this, it goes bad and is no longer safe or pleasant to eat.

• Milk can spoil in the heat.
• The fish spoiled because the fridge stopped working.
• Will this food spoil if we leave it outside?

Similar words: go bad, rot, decay

Common phrases: spoil in heat, spoil quickly, spoil without refrigeration, spoil during storage

To give someone so much attention or so many things that they become selfish or badly behaved.

• Don't spoil the children.
• Her parents spoiled her with endless gifts.
• He was spoiled as a child and still expects special treatment.

How to use it: spoil someone by doing something (You spoil him by giving him everything he asks for.)

Similar words: overindulge, pamper, coddle

Common phrases: spoil a child, spoil someone rotten, spoil the children, spoil someone with gifts

Money or valuable things taken from enemies or victims, especially after a battle.

• The soldiers divided the spoil.
• Gold and silver formed part of the captured spoil.
• The conqueror carried the spoil of war back to his city.

Similar words: loot, plunder, booty

Common phrases: spoil of war, divide the spoil, captured spoil