Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of spoiling something by causing damage to it: The action of ruining or diminishing the quality, value, or enjoyment of something.
   • The process of becoming spoiled: The gradual process through which something, especially food, becomes unfit for use or consumption.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The spoiling of the milk was caused by the power outage. (The process of the milk becoming sour happened because the electricity went out.)
  • He apologized for the spoiling of the surprise party. (He said sorry for the act of ruining the secret celebration.)

Advanced Usage

• "Spoiling for a fight": Eager or looking for an opportunity to argue or fight. (Note: This idiom uses the present participle "spoiling," not the noun "spoiling").
  • After the insult, he was spoiling for a fight. (He was very eager to start a fight following the offensive remark.)

Variants and Related Words

• Spoil (verb): To diminish or destroy the value, quality, or pleasure of something; to treat someone very indulgently.
  • Too much sugar will spoil your dinner.
• Spoiled/Spoilt (adjective): (Of food) having become unfit for eating; (of a person, especially a child) made selfish by overindulgence.
  • The meat is spoiled. / He is a spoiled child.
• Spoils (noun, plural): Goods or benefits taken by the victor in war or through political success.
  • The soldiers divided the spoils.

Synonyms

• Ruin: To cause the destruction or downfall of.
• Mar: To impair the appearance or quality of.
• Decay: The process of rotting or decomposing (specifically for the "process" meaning).
• Putrefaction: The process of decay in organic matter (formal, for the "process" meaning).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Spoil for (phrasal verb): To be eager for (a fight or confrontation). This is the verb form from which the idiom "spoiling for a fight" is derived.
  • The boxer seemed to spoil for a rematch. (The boxer appeared very eager to have a second fight.)

Related Idioms

• Be spoilt for choice: To have so many good options that it is difficult to choose. (Uses the adjective "spoilt").
  • With so many delicious desserts, I was spoilt for choice.

Noun

1. the act of spoiling something by causing damage to it
   • her spoiling my dress was deliberate
2. the process of becoming spoiled