work against (someone)

phrasal verb

worked against (someone); working against (someone); works against (someone)

: to contribute to a negative result for someone : make something less likely to happen for someone

Her lack of experience worked against her in the election.

Examples of work against (someone) in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

One factor that will work against Senate Republicans is the absence of Sen.-elect Jim Justice (R-WV), who will not be sworn in until the conclusion of his term on Monday. —

Ramsey Touchberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Jan. 2025 However, over-optimizing for privacy can sometimes work against your goals, especially when building a professional brand. —

Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024 Another drink often substituted for alcohol, kombucha, has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that may work against foodborne pathogens. —

Discover Magazine, 30 Dec. 2024 His decades of anti-vaccine rhetoric could work against him. —

Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 19 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for work against (someone)

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“Work against (someone).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/work%20against%20%28someone%29. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.

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