SETTING (AGAINST) Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

setting (against)

verb

Definition of setting (against)

present participle of set (against)

as in infuriating

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for setting (against)

Verb

Life was crazy and the entertainment business was weird and journalism was infuriating.

— Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026
Cummings said that in January 2021, a friend of Birchmore’s called Stoughton police and told a dispatcher about the illicit relationship, infuriating Farwell.

— Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of infuriating

Verb

Physicality presents technical challenges to audio recording, and wit—primarily achievable by coming up with lots of ideas in advance—quickly becomes alienating in a casual setting.

— Dan Brooks, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
Artists playing into their politics isn’t without risk, as many steer clear to avoid alienating fans or getting embroiled in controversy.

— Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of alienating

Verb

On the other hand, the Department of Justice redacted the names of several people who are not survivors -- incensing not only members of Congress but also survivors of Epstein's crimes who charge that the administration is engaged in a cover-up.

— John Parkinson, ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Amid the crackdown, Renee Good, 37, and Alex Pretti, 37, were both shot and killed by federal immigration authorities in separate confrontations, incensing large swaths of the nation.

— Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026

Definition of incensing

Verb

There’s no app to download and no maddening hold music to endure.

— Amanda McGuckin Hager, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
In an alternate-history 1904, America is still only thirteen colonies, due to the dark forces of maddening angels that warp humans’ minds and bodies.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of maddening

Verb

Raising taxes and reducing government spending are part of a potential solution, but those would be politically unpopular decisions that could risk further angering an already livid public.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
South Korea has accused Ukraine of violating a nondisclosure agreement, but Ukraine denies the countries reached such a deal, further angering Seoul.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of angering

Verb

And those are things that end up aggravating behavioral health disabilities.

— Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026
With Williams dealing with an injury that’s always tricky for players in this league, there’s no reason to rush him back and risk aggravating it again.

— Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of aggravating

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.

Browse Nearby Words

setting about

setting (against)

setting apart

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“Setting (against).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/setting%20%28against%29. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of setting (against)

verb

Example Sentences

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