spoiled

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "spoiled" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has been damaged or ruined. For example, "The food had been left out too long and was spoiled."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Málaga held on to beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 to kick off the Spanish league on Saturday, after the new coach Javi Gracia's winning debut was almost spoiled by two of his players earning red cards in a wild finale.

The Guardian - Sport

"But ultimately they [the government] don't want their record of no boats arriving to be spoiled, they want to be able to continue to say no boats have arrived for more than six months – they are hoisted on their own petard".

The Guardian

He gives an example: "Fifty per cent of our fruit and vegetables used to be spoiled before going to market".

The Guardian

The harmony of the scene is spoiled only by the smell: the rich notes of the oil mingle in the air with the strange pancake aroma that's emanating from Holman's sweat-soaked trousers and the fetid stench of a blocked toilet next door.

The Guardian - Music

In Leeds, up to 500 revellers in Temple Newsam park spoiled the fun by tipping over portable toilets and setting fire to them in what police described as acts of "sustained, determined and mindless" violence in the early hours of Monday.

The Guardian

At the front of the building, where the car park once spoiled the view, a new sculpture garden has been created, described by landscape artist Sarah Price as "Japanese Zen meets English meadow".

The Guardian

It was an astonishing performance, spoiled only by someone accidentally enabling their phone's voice activation at the end.

The Guardian - Opinion

A last-minute minor diplomatic incident spoiled the atmosphere of co-operation and friendship.

The Guardian

When asked for their favourite moments from the past nine months, my junior colleagues are spoiled for choice.

The Guardian

Unless this last episode ends with Don Draper unzipping his skin and revealing that he was actually three kids and a dog stacked on top of each other all along, very little will actually be spoiled by finding out how it ends before I watch it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Due to quarantine and lack of freedom of movement, many farmers were unable to plant crops, and those who did were unable to harvest, so produce spoiled.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing food, use "spoiled" to indicate it is no longer edible due to decomposition. For example, "The milk was spoiled after being left out of the refrigerator."

Common error

Avoid using "spoiled" to describe emotional disappointment when a situation didn't meet expectations. Instead, use words like "ruined", "marred", or "tainted" to better convey the sense of emotional distress.

Linguistic Context

The word "spoiled" functions primarily as a past participle of the verb "spoil", and also as an adjective. It describes something that has been damaged or ruined, or someone who has been excessively indulged. Ludwig shows multiple examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "spoiled" is a versatile term, commonly used as both a past participle and an adjective. As highlighted by Ludwig, it indicates a state of being damaged, ruined, or excessively indulged. Its grammatical correctness is affirmed, and it enjoys widespread usage across diverse contexts, from news reporting to casual conversation. While primarily neutral in tone, understanding its specific application—whether to describe deteriorated food or an overindulged individual—is crucial for precise communication. Remember to avoid using "spoiled" for emotional disappointments. Instead, use more appropriate alternatives such as "ruined" or "marred" for enhanced clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gone bad

Focuses specifically on the deterioration of food or perishable items.

deteriorated

Implies a decline in quality or condition, similar to "spoiled" but more general.

ruined

Indicates damage or destruction, emphasizing the negative outcome.

contaminated

Suggests that something has been made impure or unsuitable through harmful elements.

turned sour

Similar to "gone bad", focuses on food, but also suggests a negative shift in relationships or situations.

coddled

Referring to persons, this relates to excessive pampering.

overindulged

Refers to persons, indicating excessive gratification of desires.

pampered

Similar to "coddled" but indicates gentle care.

decayed

Indicates natural decomposition, particularly relevant for organic materials.

defiled

Implies something pure has been corrupted, often in a moral or spiritual sense.

FAQs

How to use "spoiled" in a sentence?

You can use "spoiled" to describe food that has gone bad, as in, "The fruit was "spoiled" after being left in the sun." Alternatively, you can use it to describe someone who has been excessively pampered, for example, "The "spoiled" child demanded more toys".

What's the difference between "spoiled" and "rotten"?

"Spoiled" generally refers to food that is no longer fit for consumption due to bacterial or fungal growth. "Rotten" is a more advanced stage of decomposition, often with a foul odor. For example, "The meat was "spoiled", but the eggs were "rotten"."

What can I say instead of "spoiled" when referring to a person?

When referring to a person, alternatives to "spoiled" include "pampered", "coddled", or "overindulged". For example, instead of "He is a "spoiled" brat", you could say "He is a "pampered" child."

Is it correct to say something is "spoiled" when it's ruined?

Yes, "spoiled" can be used to mean ruined, especially when referring to something that has been damaged or negatively affected. For instance, "The picnic was "spoiled" by the rain" means the rain ruined the picnic.