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)
Related Words
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
-
Victor Bautista got into an argument with his killer in front of NYCHA’s Moore Houses, across the street from troubled St. Mary’s Park, in Mott Haven about 7:45 a.m. As the quarrel escalated, the gunman shot Bautista in the chest near Trinity Ave.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
17 June 2025
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The canvas brims with characters who casually kill but also love, laugh, quarrel.—
Anupama Chopra,
HollywoodReporter,
12 June 2025
Noun
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Santana declined to discuss specifics of what prompted the altercation.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
20 June 2025
-
Santana said the altercation took place somewhere around the seventh inning.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
Noun
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The simmering dispute comes as protesters showed up at Dodger Stadium on Thursday to decry Dodgers’ silence amidst immigration raids and unrest in Los Angeles.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
21 June 2025
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News to Know Wisconsin lawsuit accuses Miami of tampering In the latest legal dispute amid the changing landscape of college sports, the University of Wisconsin filed a lawsuit against the University of Miami yesterday for allegedly tampering with a football player.—
and Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
Noun
-
The changes come amid several controversies facing the Texas Lottery in recent years, particularly on the issue of courier purchases.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
25 June 2025
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Red Bull team boss Christian Horner revealed what has changed in Formula 1 over his 20 years in the sport amid the sport's drama and controversies.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Noun
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For decades, Kahneman and Gary Klein, a psychologist who researches naturalistic decision-making, had a running disagreement about whether human intuition could be trusted.—
Gabriel Snyder,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
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Though the talks fell apart over disagreements on what measures North Korea would take toward disarmament and Trump’s reluctance to offer sanctions relief, the summits ended on a surprisingly hopeful note, with the two leaders walking away as pen pals.—
Max Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2025
Noun
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The result of that fight was Paul's first and only pro loss, dropping a split decision to Fury.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
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Then, in 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that federal courts do not have a role to play in deciding legal fights over partisan gerrymandering, when state's voting lines are drawn to entrench the political party in power.—
June 27,
CBS News,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
The murder trial was set to begin next month, starting with jury selection on Aug. 4, and opening arguments two weeks later.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
1 July 2025
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That argument has caught the attention of the Trump administration.—
Daniel Ackerman,
NPR,
30 June 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 3 Jul. 2025.
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