dead set
idiom
: firmly determined
The mayor was dead set against [=strongly opposed to] the plan.
She was dead set on [=completely certain about] going to college.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
From that day forward, his showrunners, late night vet Rob Crabbe and longtime Corden collaborator Ben Winston, have been dead set on making the final season the show’s biggest and most star-studded yet.
—
Lacey Rose, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Apr. 2023
The standard narrative of the Church over the past two centuries depicts an institution dead set against the modern world abruptly swerving to embrace it.
—Paul Elie, The Atlantic, 11 Dec. 2022
After all, the pair's relationship is already on its last leg — Kate brings up their age gap and Logan's lackluster finances constantly — but Gabby and Rachel appear dead set on being the tag team that puts the final nail in its coffin.
—Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 16 Nov. 2022
Taylor and Godell estimated five jurors were dead set in favor of the NCAA, based on its authority.
—oregonlive, 6 May 2022
Goff and other medical experts added that the mandates also reach a wider group of people who aren’t completely dead set against the vaccination.
—Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 9 Nov. 2021
Now, the SpaceX mastermind, who is dead set on colonizing the Red Planet, is doubling down on that sentiment.
—Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 26 Apr. 2021
Republicans, who spent a decade dead set on repealing the law, blocked any policies to expand its reach.
—New York Times, 27 Feb. 2021
The caveats: This is for people who aren't dead set on a certain hotel or specific neighborhood.
—Forrest Brown, CNN, 9 Oct. 2022
See More
Lacey Rose, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Apr. 2023
The standard narrative of the Church over the past two centuries depicts an institution dead set against the modern world abruptly swerving to embrace it.
—Paul Elie, The Atlantic, 11 Dec. 2022
After all, the pair's relationship is already on its last leg — Kate brings up their age gap and Logan's lackluster finances constantly — but Gabby and Rachel appear dead set on being the tag team that puts the final nail in its coffin.
—Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 16 Nov. 2022
Taylor and Godell estimated five jurors were dead set in favor of the NCAA, based on its authority.
—oregonlive, 6 May 2022
Goff and other medical experts added that the mandates also reach a wider group of people who aren’t completely dead set against the vaccination.
—Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 9 Nov. 2021
Now, the SpaceX mastermind, who is dead set on colonizing the Red Planet, is doubling down on that sentiment.
—Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 26 Apr. 2021
Republicans, who spent a decade dead set on repealing the law, blocked any policies to expand its reach.
—New York Times, 27 Feb. 2021
The caveats: This is for people who aren't dead set on a certain hotel or specific neighborhood.
—Forrest Brown, CNN, 9 Oct. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dead set.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near dead set
Cite this Entry
“Dead set.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dead%20set. Accessed 7 Jun. 2023.
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