Meaning 1
Not damaged or degraded by harmful development, use, or neglect.
Reach for it when Praising a landscape, place, or object that retains valued original qualities.
A foot-only trail leads to an unspoiled cove below the cliffs.
Meaning 2
Not made selfish or unpleasant by privilege or praise.
Reach for it when Commending a person's grounded character despite success.
The celebrated young musician remained curious and unspoiled.
| Meaning 1 | Meaning 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| everyday | ||
| warm |
| |
| formal | ||
| literary |
|
everyday
Fits when the setting retains nonbuilt character
Not when human-managed places can also be unspoiled
formal
Fits when beauty or condition has no spoiling mark
Not when less focused on development or use
literary
Fits when a place appears exceptionally untouched
Not when may erase careful human stewardship
warm
Fits when success has not distorted perspective
Not when does not directly address selfish behavior
warm
Fits when a person does not overvalue achievement
Not when stronger moral praise than merely unspoiled
formal
unaffected
Fits when manner remains natural despite status
Not when can also mean unchanged by an external event
unspoiled countryside
The rail trail crosses twenty kilometers of unspoiled countryside.
remain unspoiled
Visitor limits help the island remain unspoiled.
remarkably unspoiled
Despite early fame, the actor remained remarkably unspoiled.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Updated
Your browser isn't saving lists, so this one will be cleared when you leave the page.