set against
phrasal verb
set against; setting against; sets against
: feeling strongly that one does not want (something) or will not do (something)
Everyone was set against going.
He was dead set against the deal.
Examples of set against in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Underneath the behaviors around food is often an intricate web of trauma, anxiety, and even genetic predisposition, all set against the backdrop of a culture that prizes thinness.
—
Cole Kazdin, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024
Light hues on the hull and superstructure are set against swathes of dark plate glass, resulting in a striking contrast of materials.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2024
Raducanu then dropped the first set against Caroline Garcia later that evening before rallying to defeat the world No. 23 3-6 6-3 6-2 and level the tie at 1-1.
—Issy Ronald, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
The film is set against the 1960s space race and features Johansson as a marketing exec hired by NASA to film a fake moon landing in case the real mission fails.
—Caroline Brew, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024
Unable to communicate clever visual ideas or narrative moments at a life-size scale, the title and author’s name become all-important; they’re set against colour blobs to give the book just enough pizzazz to stand out.
—Hazlitt, 27 Mar. 2024
It was filled with light, sometimes set against dark shadows, but always artfully placed, and full of whimsy.
—Angelica Aboulhosn, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024
Mo’s novels are often set against the backdrop of modern China, from the Japanese invasion and the Great Famine to the Cultural Revolution.
—Nectar Gan, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024
Arriving guests are greeted with leis and escorted through an open-air atrium filled with sculptures and water fountains, all set against the backdrop of Pacific Ocean views.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Mar. 2024
Cole Kazdin, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024
Light hues on the hull and superstructure are set against swathes of dark plate glass, resulting in a striking contrast of materials.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2024
Raducanu then dropped the first set against Caroline Garcia later that evening before rallying to defeat the world No. 23 3-6 6-3 6-2 and level the tie at 1-1.
—Issy Ronald, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
The film is set against the 1960s space race and features Johansson as a marketing exec hired by NASA to film a fake moon landing in case the real mission fails.
—Caroline Brew, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024
Unable to communicate clever visual ideas or narrative moments at a life-size scale, the title and author’s name become all-important; they’re set against colour blobs to give the book just enough pizzazz to stand out.
—Hazlitt, 27 Mar. 2024
It was filled with light, sometimes set against dark shadows, but always artfully placed, and full of whimsy.
—Angelica Aboulhosn, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024
Mo’s novels are often set against the backdrop of modern China, from the Japanese invasion and the Great Famine to the Cultural Revolution.
—Nectar Gan, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024
Arriving guests are greeted with leis and escorted through an open-air atrium filled with sculptures and water fountains, all set against the backdrop of Pacific Ocean views.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'set against.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near set against
Cite this Entry
“Set against.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/set%20against. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
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