plural set-tos
: a usually brief and vigorous fight or debate
set to; setting to; sets to
Examples of set-to in a Sentence
Noun
they had a brief set-to about money, but they seem to have resolved it
Recent Examples on the Web
Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
Into this unholy mess blunders Juan (Juan Amador), bearing the gushing stigmata of a violent set-to in a Sacramento bar.
—Reed Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2023
Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
At Gardner Elementary, one of the schools set to close, students and parents described a day filled with uncertainty and emotion.
—Da Lin, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for set-to
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The grizzled heads among them testified to many a hazardous chase or physical set-to with violators of Wisconsin’s fish and game laws.
—Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
Into this unholy mess blunders Juan (Juan Amador), bearing the gushing stigmata of a violent set-to in a Sacramento bar.
—Reed Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2023
Verb
The program is set to expire this summer, and failure to renew it could seriously jeopardize the stadium project.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
At Gardner Elementary, one of the schools set to close, students and parents described a day filled with uncertainty and emotion.
—Da Lin, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for set-to
Cite this Entry
“Set-to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/set-to. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
