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

As the mood turned against foreign involvement, Tom Shannon was a mainstay at the State Department. —Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026

According to a poll taken the same day as the shooting in Minneapolis, the public has turned against ICE’s often-brutal methods. —David Frum, The Atlantic, 12 Jan. 2026

When the fandom turns against Halo and a scandal threatens his standing, Minnie takes it upon herself to save him. —Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026

As the villagers turn against their budding friendship, Kellou must stand up for Aya and face the hostility of her own people, while fighting to hold on to her freedom. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2026

Rhymes for turn against

• recommenced
• recompensed
• commenced
• condensed
• dispensed
• expensed
• incensed
• unfenced
• fenced
• sensed
• tensed