militate against

phrasal verb

militated against; militating against; militates against

formal

: to make (something) unlikely to happen : to prevent (something) from happening

His inexperience militates against his getting an early promotion.

factors militating against success

Examples of militate against in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Europe’s political setup militates against a proactive foreign policy. —Michael Kimmage and Hanna Notte, Foreign Affairs, 12 Oct. 2023

But memories are short, and the existential dread that could overtake the Democratic political class if a real surge materialized may very well militate against the party’s better judgment. —The Editors, National Review, 31 Aug. 2023

Both electoral and constitutional problems militate against the proposal. —Peter J. Wallison, National Review, 27 June 2023

Domestic political factors in both countries militate against compromise. —Jeffrey Mankoff, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2020