as in quarrel
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
they had a brief set-to about money, but they seem to have resolved it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to settle (down)
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of set (to)
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
The flashpoint for those set-tos was TCC’s purchase of two large, derelict properties on the edge of town.
—Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 1 July 2023
Verb
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
The flashpoint for those set-tos was TCC’s purchase of two large, derelict properties on the edge of town.
—Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 1 July 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for set (to)
Noun
-
Your celestial ruler, Mercury, will also station retrograde in your communication sector (for the win), triggering misunderstandings and unnecessary quarrels with siblings or neighbors.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
8 July 2025
-
According to writer and historian Geoffrey C. Ward, Johnson had his quarrels inside and outside the ring.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Noun
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Back in May, former Washington Commanders running back Adrian Peterson went viral for his involvement in a physical altercation at a poker game in Houston, Texas.—
Justin Grasso,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 July 2025
-
The altercation could be setting the stage for an official showdown between Jelly and Paul at this year’s SummerSlam, scheduled for Aug. 2–3 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Watch Jelly Roll face off with Logan Paul at WWE SmackDown in the clip below.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
But there are still some sour grapes about the big tactical dispute in February.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
14 July 2025
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Threads on the South Park subreddit and social media have lit up with foul-mouthed complaints from international fans, most of them directed at Paramount and David Ellison’s Skydance Media, whose $8 billion buyout of Paramount is at the heart of the South Park dispute.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
14 July 2025
Noun
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What To Know An Atlas Intel poll of 1,935 Americans conducted amid the heat of the Epstein controversy, between July 13 and 18, found that Bondi's approval rating has dropped significantly since she was confirmed in February.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 July 2025
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Taylor Swift's surprise mural appearance and the controversy surrounding the sale of her masters to Scooter Braun added to the city's buzz.—
Bryan West,
Nashville Tennessean,
19 July 2025
Noun
-
Internal disagreements among board members further complicate SDC's situation.—
Gina Lee Castro,
jsonline.com,
18 July 2025
-
Because of this, students should note that the topic of the disagreement matters far less than how the disagreement illuminates the student’s capacity for reflection, listening, and growth.—
Christopher Rim,
Forbes.com,
17 July 2025
Noun
-
Pledging weapons for Ukraine's fight appears to be the latest stage in this pivot.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 July 2025
-
Here, there was a much tighter focus on the individual pieces of research that had become casualties in that larger fight.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
Could this argument exempt them from the exit tax, sparing them significant financial consequences?—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
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That request may become even more important to prosecutors if Routh is speaking and making arguments for himself at his trial.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
12 July 2025
Noun
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The Hussein family bickers about which MENA ethnicities are better than others.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2025
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Better to follow the West German example and achieve full NATO membership for independent Ukraine than to watch essential U.S. support dwindle as Congress bickers and Trump’s reelection odds increase.—
M. E. Sarotte,
Foreign Affairs,
8 July 2024
Cite this Entry
“Set (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set%20%28to%29. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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