spoilt
spoilt — adjective
1. Someone — especially a child — who is spoilt behaves badly and shows a difficult
Someone — especially a child — who is spoilt behaves badly and shows a difficult character because adults give them whatever they request and do not set limits on their behaviour.
The neighbours called Felix a spoilt brat when he screamed for toys in the shop.
attributive use: spoilt brat
Romi's parents gave in to demands, so she acts like a spoilt kid at school.
Teachers say that spoilt children often struggle to share toys or wait their turn.
Ingrid grew up spoilt because her grandparents never said no to anything she wanted.
- pampered
focuses on being treated with excessive care rather than the resulting bad behaviour
- indulged
milder than 'spoilt'; emphasises parents willingly satisfying wishes without necessarily causing behavioural problems
- overindulged
more formal; given too much of something enjoyable
- well-behaved
describes a child who follows rules and acts politely
- disciplined
describes a child raised with clear rules and boundaries
文法句型
a spoilt [noun]
be spoilt
grow up spoilt
用法筆記
This is the British English spelling; American English uses 'spoiled'. The word carries a strongly negative judgement — it describes a child whose behaviour has been harmed by overindulgence, not simply a child who receives many gifts.
常見錯誤
2. Spoilt food is no longer fresh or safe to eat because it has been kept for too l
Spoilt food is no longer fresh or safe to eat because it has been kept for too long or stored in the wrong way.
The milk smelt sour, so Dario poured the spoilt milk down the sink.
attributive use: spoilt milk
Kemi threw away the spoilt leftovers that had been in the fridge for two weeks.
A strange smell from the cupboard told Talia that the vegetables had gone spoilt.
Never eat meat that looks or smells spoilt — it can make you very ill.
- fresh
recently harvested, made, or purchased; still good to eat
文法句型
[food] is spoilt
[food] has gone spoilt
spoilt [food]
用法筆記
This sense appears more often in predicative position ('the milk is spoilt') than attributive ('spoilt milk'). British English uses 'spoilt'; American English uses 'spoiled'. To sound natural, use 'go spoilt' or 'turn spoilt' for gradual decay.