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
Reed Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2023
His truest, ugliest self tends to emerge in his increasingly frequent set-tos with Linda, whose impatience with his documentary persona gradually wears through even her considerable acting ability.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 Sep. 2023
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 5 Jan. 2026
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Ireland’s Prime Minister Michael Martin — the first visit by an Irish leader in 14 years — and was set to host South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung later in the day.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for set-to
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Noun
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
His truest, ugliest self tends to emerge in his increasingly frequent set-tos with Linda, whose impatience with his documentary persona gradually wears through even her considerable acting ability.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 Sep. 2023
Verb
Consumer Electronics Show 2026 (CES 2026), the world’s leading consumer technology event organized by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), has begun, bringing together top global players to unveil innovations set to shape the year ahead.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 5 Jan. 2026
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Ireland’s Prime Minister Michael Martin — the first visit by an Irish leader in 14 years — and was set to host South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung later in the day.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 5 Jan. 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 9 Jan. 2026.
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