dead set

American  

[ded set, ded set] / ˈdɛd ˈsɛt, ˈdɛd ˌsɛt /

adjective

1. firmly decided or determined; resolved.

   His family was dead set against the marriage.

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noun

1. a serious or determined attempt; firm effort.

   He made a dead set at winning the championship.

2. Hunting. the stiff posture assumed by a hunting dog in indicating the presence and location of game.

dead set British  

adverb

1. absolutely

   he is dead set against going to Spain

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noun

1. the motionless position of a dog when pointing with its muzzle towards game

adjective

1. (of a hunting dog) in this position

interjection

1. slang an expression of affirmation

   dead set, I worked from dawn to dusk

Etymology

Origin of dead set

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dead set

How can the Fed provide forecasts to the public with Warsh dead set against providing forward guidance about interest rates?

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

Kelce was dead set on rediscovering the explosiveness that once made him practically impossible to cover.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

Williams agrees this has been her experience, one she’s grateful for in an industry often dead set on ignoring perspectives like hers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

But I was dead set it was a three for me.

From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026

Not to mention the fact that Simon spent hundreds of dollars on application fees alone, even though he’s dead set on NYU.

From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli

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Related Words

• adamant
• austere
• definite
• exact
• fixed
• hard-line
• harsh
• inflexible
• intransigent
• rigorous
• solid
• stern
• stringent
• uncompromising
• unyielding

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