spoiler alert

noun

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see spoiler, alert: a warning that plot elements in a drama will be exposed.

“Spoiler alert: The main character, Mark, succumbs to an illness at the end.”

Meanings

nounspoiler alert (plural spoiler alerts)

plural spoiler alerts

  1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see spoiler, alert: a warning that plot elements in a drama will be exposed.
interjection
  1. An indication, placed in a text, that the plot of a drama is about to be exposed.

    Spoiler alert: The main character, Mark, succumbs to an illness at the end.

    Synonyms: spoiler ahead, spoiler warning

  2. humorousoftenIndicates that the speaker is about to reveal something unanticipated or unpleasant.

    Spoiler alert, these measures have not proved to be very helpful at mitigating the effects of this crisis.

    2 more examples

    At this point, an appropriately impressed Jimmy Fallon asks if her [Millie Bobby Brown's] ear for accents extends beyond Miley Cyrus sitcoms, and—SPOILER ALERT—it definitely does.

    2022 May 15, Kayleigh Roberts, “Millie Bobby Brown Does a Spot-On Anna Delvey Impression That You *Must* Hear”, in Cosmopolitan, archived from the original on 19 May 2022

    As we approach the midpoint of the year, it is timely to offer a scorecard on the ministerial achievements towards these aims. And - spoiler alert - it does not make happy reading for the Government.

    2023 June 14, Christian Wolmar, “Ministerial report makes depressing reading for the railway”, in RAIL, number 985, page 44

    Synonyms: spoiler ahead, spoiler warning

Synonyms & antonyms

interjectionAn indication, placed in a text, that the plot of a drama is about to be exposed.

interjectionIndicates that the speaker is about to reveal something unanticipated or unpleasant.

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 劇透警告 /剧透警告
  • 劇透警告 /剧透警告an indication, placed in a text, that the plot of a drama is about to be exposed
Hungarian lelövöm a poént
  • lelövöm a poéntindicates that the speaker is about to reveal something unanticipated or unpleasant
Japanese ネタバレ注意
  • ネタバレ注意an indication, placed in a text, that the plot of a drama is about to be exposed
Portuguese alerta de spoiler
  • alerta de spoileran indication, placed in a text, that the plot of a drama is about to be exposed
Cite this entry
APA

spoiler alert. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spoiler%20alert

MLA

“spoiler alert.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spoiler%20alert. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “spoiler alert,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spoiler%20alert.

Source: spoiler alert on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.