SPOILS Synonyms: 248 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'spoils' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of spoils are booty , loot , plunder , prize , and spoil . While all these words mean "something taken from another by force or craft," spoil , more commonly spoils , applies to what belongs by right or custom to the victor in war or political contest. // the spoils of political victory

Q: When can 'booty' be used instead of 'spoils'?

In some situations, the words booty and spoils are roughly equivalent. However, booty implies plunder to be shared among confederates. // thieves dividing up their booty

Q: When is it sensible to use 'loot' instead of 'spoils'?

While the synonyms loot and spoils are close in meaning, loot applies especially to what is taken from victims of a catastrophe. // picked through the ruins for loot

Q: In what contexts can 'plunder' take the place of 'spoils'?

Although the words plunder and spoils have much in common, plunder applies to what is taken not only in war but in robbery, banditry, grafting, or swindling. // a bootlegger's plunder

Q: When might 'prize' be a better fit than 'spoils'?

The meanings of prize and spoils largely overlap; however, prize applies to spoils captured on the high seas or territorial waters of the enemy. // the wartime right of seizing prizes at sea

spoils 1 of 2

noun

plural of spoil

as in loots

valuables stolen or taken by force the bandits escaped with their lives but not with the spoils

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spoils

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of spoil

as in taints

to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable too much coddling will spoil the child

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in decomposes

to go through decomposition the meat has spoiled

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in damages

to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of know when to stop, for an unnecessary brushstroke can spoil a painted portrait

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in indulges

to treat with great or excessive care when they were newlyweds, the wife tended to spoil her husband, but she soon got over that

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun spoils differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of spoils are booty, loot, plunder, prize, and spoil. While all these words mean "something taken from another by force or craft," spoil, more commonly spoils, applies to what belongs by right or custom to the victor in war or political contest.

the spoils of political victory

When can booty be used instead of spoils?

In some situations, the words booty and spoils are roughly equivalent. However, booty implies plunder to be shared among confederates.

thieves dividing up their booty

When is it sensible to use loot instead of spoils?

While the synonyms loot and spoils are close in meaning, loot applies especially to what is taken from victims of a catastrophe.

picked through the ruins for loot

In what contexts can plunder take the place of spoils?

Although the words plunder and spoils have much in common, plunder applies to what is taken not only in war but in robbery, banditry, grafting, or swindling.

a bootlegger's plunder

When might prize be a better fit than spoils?

The meanings of prize and spoils largely overlap; however, prize applies to spoils captured on the high seas or territorial waters of the enemy.

the wartime right of seizing prizes at sea

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of spoils

Noun

To the agers who make a practice of exercising during the decades before retirement, and who fall on the lucky side of fate, often go the spoils of fulfillment. — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026 The spoils of Affleck’s and Damon’s onscreen accomplishments documented in these halls have had peaks and valleys. — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026 Back then, bond investors were enjoying the spoils of a multi-decade bull market. — Greg Ritchie, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026 Along the way there were Nazis, spoils of war, and more than one accidental encounter. — IEEE Spectrum, 2 Aug. 2026 Nowhere is this indifference to people more apparent than in the treatment of female characters (at least the ones who aren’t big splashy cameos) as rewards or status symbols or spoils of war. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2026 But Marconi also remembered that Messi would divide the spoils among his teammates, handing out alfajores to other boys. — Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026 Yet, outside the excellently claustrophobic Trojan Horse scenes, Nolan is more interested in exploring his anguish than his spoils. — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026 Belgium came from behind to draw 1-1 against Egypt, while Iran did so twice to share the spoils with New Zealand. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 21 June 2026

Verb

This story spoils the plot of the film Whalefall, now out in theaters, based on Daniel Kraus‘ novel. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026 The royal banquet is supposed to be a celebration of Macbeth’s power, but the presence of the morally upright ghost spoils everything! — Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026 Poor setup spoils a full experience While the day was meant to relive a tradition that brought music to KU’s campus, the ball was certainly dropped as far as the set-up goes. — Rashad Alexander october 7, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026 Alonso is eight RBIs ahead of Alvarez for the league lead and may be the man who spoils the Houston slugger's pursuit of a Triple Crown. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026 Most Popular Above all, Cape Town is a beach town that spoils with options for sun and sand. — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Aug. 2026 Summer spoils passengers with long days to take in the changing scenery, and the Prairies reward with epic sunsets. — Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 14 Aug. 2026 The fruit spoils quickly, so it is often sold frozen or as juice, puree, or powder. — Lindsey Desoto, Health, 30 July 2026 The jewel thieves’ spoils, all of which are still missing, include a sapphire necklace worn by Napoleon Bonaparte’s stepdaughter and an emerald necklace covered with more than 1,000 diamonds. — News Desk, Artforum, 22 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spoils

Noun

According to character descriptions provided by the streamer, Mantzoukas plays Lambros, a local store owner and occasional looter of the treasures unearthed at the dig site.

— Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
Columbus also sought riches and treasures to gift the monarchs.

— Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of treasures

Verb

Four families living near Meta’s Newton County data center are suing the tech giant, claiming the massive facility taints their drinking water and disrupts their daily lives.

— AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 2 Sep. 2026
That’s been an idiotic trope for too long — that participating in the business side of it taints you.

— Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026

Definition of taints

Verb

Remnants of a wooden spear weren’t found near the Neanderthal’s remains, which is understandable since the material often decomposes so quickly.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026
Named for the Frenchman Joseph Fourier, the Fourier transform decomposes any function into a set of simple waves, each with a different frequency, or tone.

— Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of decomposes

Verb

Writing strips out the reactive tone that damages trust and forces people to engage with the actual argument instead of the way it was said.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
The condition, in which reduced blood flow damages the optic nerve, can cause sudden and permanent vision loss.

— Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of damages

Verb

Professional patient Argan indulges his every ailment, and schemes to marry off his daughter to a doctor to save on medical bills.

— Greg Evans, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2026
Lee indulges that emotional ambiguity, the way the pedal steel can blur the distinction between a frown and a smile.

— Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026

Definition of indulges

Verb

Set in 2029 in a future where no mutants have been born in 25 years, Jackman plays an older, grizzlier Wolverine, one whose healing factor is fading as his adamantium skeleton slowly poisons him.

— Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Aug. 2026
Any infection can progress to a systemic disease that poisons the blood and body.

— RJ Mackenzie, Popular Science, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of poisons

Verb

In my experience, environment, culture, clarity, psychological safety and pace determine whether talent produces or rots.

— Nilton Bernini, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026
And be prepared to top off the soil in the future as the remaining root system rots away, causing the soil to sag.

— Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of rots

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“Spoils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spoils. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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