set against

British  

verb

1. to balance or compare

   to set a person's faults against his virtues

2. to cause to be hostile or unfriendly to

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set against Idioms  

1. Be or cause someone to be opposed to, as in Civil wars often set brother against brother, or The police chief's critics were set against his officers. [Late 1200s] Also see dead set against.

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Example Sentences

The broadest index of U.S. blue chip shares is significantly cheaper than it was just a few weeks ago, with the outsize price action, set against a quiet improvement in both quarterly and full-year earnings forecasts, resulting in a 17% compression of the benchmark’s price-to-earnings ratio, according to Mike Wilson, Morgan Stanley’s chief U.S. equity strategist.

From Barron's

As Sinner looked to secure the opening set against Lehecka, he twice dispatched first serves from the Czech with crushing cross-court forehands.

From BBC

Her only loss was in January's Australian Open final to world number two Elena Rybakina, who had been the only player to win a set against Sabalenka in 2026 before American Gauff sent the Miami final into a decider.

From BBC

He arrived at Liverpool from AS Roma on 23 June 2017 for £34m, a fee now resembling an act of grand larceny when set against what he subsequently achieved.

From BBC

Stonehenge in June 2024 set against a backdrop of wonderful pink and yellow Northern Lights.

From BBC

Related Words

• analyze
• contrast
• correlate
• equal
• match
• measure
• study