turn against
phrasal verb
turned against; turning against; turns against
1
: to stop supporting or being friendly to (someone or something)
The senator eventually turned against the war.
She turned against her best friend.
2
: to cause (someone) to stop being friendly toward (someone)
He tried to turn our friends against us.
3
: to use (something) in a way that harms or discredits (someone)
Her political opponent tried to turn her many years of experience in Washington against her.
Examples of turn against in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Around 2010, public sentiment turned against the Democrats.
—
Linley Sanders, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
As the market turned against GVA, Kastleman alleges, Stalcup scrambled to recoup his own investments at the expense of his investors.
—Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026
Even cursory nods to the pandemic as the root cause of neighbors turning against neighbors aren’t explored so much as they’re acknowledged, as if viewers are somehow unaware of the polarization plaguing America.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026
Dodani will play Vik, a coder with a comic sensibility who seeks out Michael and Olivia for representation in a last-ditch effort when his own tech-employer turns against him.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turn against
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Linley Sanders, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
As the market turned against GVA, Kastleman alleges, Stalcup scrambled to recoup his own investments at the expense of his investors.
—Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026
Even cursory nods to the pandemic as the root cause of neighbors turning against neighbors aren’t explored so much as they’re acknowledged, as if viewers are somehow unaware of the polarization plaguing America.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026
Dodani will play Vik, a coder with a comic sensibility who seeks out Michael and Olivia for representation in a last-ditch effort when his own tech-employer turns against him.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turn against
Cite this Entry
“Turn against.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turn%20against. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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