to spoil
2
7.6
- verb
- /spɔɪl/
:
saquear
- A Panzer division went on a spoiling expedition.
Examples
-
The enemy is spoiling the Temple, and yet Jehovah watches and does nothing to defend His people.
Blog text (16) -
Cuba charged in the United Nations that the United States released these thrips from the plane, accidentally or deliberately, to spoil their sugarcane crop—an act of biological warfare.
Academic text (2006) -
Take what spoils from Egypt you will, but go!
-
Even so will I spoil the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.
Blog text (4) -
You're spoiling the whole invasion.
-
The invading army began to spoil the city, taking all valuable possessions.
-
During the war, the soldiers spoiled the countryside, leaving destruction in their wake.
-
They spoiled the enemy's supplies to weaken their chances in the battle.
Synonyms
∞
2.0
Destroy or badly damage something so it cannot be used
43
9.6
To violently damage a place and take its goods
29
8.1
To steal things by force during war or riots
26
6.0
To steal things by force, often during war or disorder
14
8.6
To loot and destroy a town or city after capturing it in war
2
9.3
Steal valuable things and damage a place or person, often by force
1
6.1
Damage a place by force and take or destroy its things
1
9.9
To take things by force from people or places, often as loot during war
To take things and damage a place using force, often by people
To steal something from someone often by force
Antonyms
Idioms
- Informal
3
6.7
To give someone too much kindness and gifts so they expect special treatment
Phrasal Verbs
Compounds
How Damaging
Surface Forms
Etymology
Spoil (to plunder or destroy) comes directly from Latin spoliare, which meant 'to strip' or 'take away'. So to spoil a town or place is to strip it of goods and leave it ruined.