dead set
[ ded set for 1, 2; ded set for 3 ]
/ ˈdɛd ˈsɛt for 1, 2; ˈdɛd ˌsɛt for 3 /
adjective
firmly decided or determined; resolved: His family was dead set against the marriage.
noun
a serious or determined attempt; firm effort: He made a dead set at winning the championship.
Hunting. the stiff posture assumed by a hunting dog in indicating the presence and location of game.
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RELATED WORDS
uncompromising, stringent, austere, harsh, solid, hard-line, definite, unyielding, inflexible, intransigent, stern, rigorous, adamant, fixed, exact, tough, scrupulous, exacting, severe, rigid
Nearby words
- dead ringer,
- dead run,
- dead sea,
- dead sea fruit,
- dead sea scrolls,
- dead set against,
- dead slow,
- dead soldier,
- dead space,
- dead spindle
Origin of dead set
An Americanism dating back to 1840–50
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for dead set
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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