dead set

1 of 2

phrase

: firmly determined

The mayor was dead set against [=strongly opposed to] the plan.

She was dead set on [=completely certain about] going to college.

set against

2 of 2

verb

set against; setting against; sets against

: feeling strongly that one does not want (something) or will not do (something)

Everyone was set against going.

He was dead set against the deal.

Examples of dead set in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Phrase

Some real-estate experts contend, however, that institutions shelling out millions to underwrite a property are already dead set on recouping their investments. — Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 19 July 2026

The Offspring are dead set on making history — in a rather unusual way. — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 2 July 2026

Verb

But after scuffling for most of the road trip, Los Angeles broke out Sunday for a 6-1 win in the rubber match of a three-game set against the Detroit Tigers. — Katie Woo, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026

Hsu’s argument for why the near-monochrome restaurant doesn’t go flat is that the palette itself runs on tension, with the statement-making veined marble behind the point-of-sale area set against rough plaster walls. — Alexis Benveniste, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for dead set

• abet
• asset
• baguette
• banquette
• barbette
• beget
• beset
• binet
• briquette
• brunet
• brunette
• burette