work against (someone)

phrasal verb

worked against (someone); working against (someone); works against (someone)
: to contribute to a negative result for someone : make something less likely to happen for someone
Her lack of experience worked against her in the election.

Examples of work against (someone) in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Sometimes that kind of exposure can work against a player. Corey Pronman, New York Times, 6 May 2025 But positioning our work against a villain is a nonnegotiable for success. Patrick Riccards, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025 In return for working to remove dyes from food, the trade group asked the Trump administration to work against state legislation that has created a patchwork of laws around food dyes — which could lead to more restrictive bans on other chemicals -- not just food dyes -- in certain states. Sony Salzman, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2025 But Cardinal Zuppi’s association with the Community of Sant’Egidio could work against him in the election for the next pope, according to Sandro Magister, a Vatican expert. Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for work against (someone)

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Work against (someone).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/work%20against%20%28someone%29. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!