How to Use set against in a Sentence

set against

phrasal verb
Definition of set againstnext
  • The film is set against the backdrop of the Gilets Jaunes movement in France.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 1 Nov. 2023
  • In 2022, the Italian had a match point in the fourth set against Carlos Alcaraz.
    — Jill Martin, CNN, 3 Sep. 2024
  • But that rhetoric rings hollow when set against the record of U.S. actions.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2023
  • The post is set against a plain black backdrop, with no caption.
    — Rebecca Schneid, TIME, 18 July 2024
  • Choose from three stripe colors (green, navy, and pink) that are all set against a crisp white.
    — Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2024
  • The pool is set against a backdrop of vineyards and mountains.
    — Mark David, Robb Report, 23 Feb. 2024
  • On this Friday night, there’s a drum set against a wall of dryers.
    — Lina Abascal, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
  • And those who want to get their heart rate pumping can head to the outdoor gym set against the backdrop of the turquoise Aegean Sea.
    — Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 6 Jan. 2024
  • It’s set against the backdrop of a world that appears to be slowly crumbling.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 6 Sep. 2024
  • It’s all set against the backdrop of the 1957 Mille Miglia, a tragic event in racing history.
    — Jenelle Riley, Variety, 21 Dec. 2023
  • All of this set against the backdrop of a vivacious London in the middle of a sizzling heat wave.
    — Kirsty Greenwood, USA TODAY, 20 May 2024
  • With the Yankees in San Francisco for a three-game set against the Giants, the slugger crushed three homers in the first two games of the series.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 2 June 2024
  • The dining area is set against a backdrop of the home’s original knotty pine walls.
    — Katherine Burns Olson, Architectural Digest, 5 July 2024
  • They’re set against the text of the 1855 Treaty of Hellgate, which created the Flathead Reservation.
    — Jillian Steinhauer, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2023
  • His serve and forehand, which carried him through the last two sets against Ruud, are stronger than ever.
    — Gerald Marzorati, The New Yorker, 12 June 2023
  • The fins and backs of whale sharks are adorned with a unique pattern of creamy white spots and stripes set against a dark grayish, brownish, or blueish backdrop.
    — Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 8 Jan. 2024
  • At Mapleton Barn in Oconomowoc, there are summer greens set against fading barn reds.
    — Chicago Tribune Staff, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2023
  • Canada, the home of winter, looks to have no shortage of snowy inns set against fairytale-like landscapes with piles and piles of the white, fluffy stuff.
    — Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Dec. 2023
  • The music video is set against lively city streets and bright indoor dance floors that place all three stars on center stage.
    — Thania Garcia, Variety, 14 Sep. 2023
  • The film is set against a stark and barren landscape, with key scenes filmed near Superior, in the shadow of Apache Leap.
    — Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 5 Oct. 2024
  • The main house’s two ample bedrooms share a spacious Jack-and-Jill-style bathroom with a free-standing tub set against a wall of glass.
    — Mark David, Robb Report, 6 Sep. 2023
  • Par for the course, it’s all set against a backdrop of leopard print—from the carpet and wallpaper to the dressing curtains and tabletops.
    — Samantha Brooks, Vogue, 7 Jan. 2024
  • Next, the Chargers have their second three-game set against teams not forecast to have winning seasons.
    — Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2023
  • Once again, the music will be set against the natural backdrop of Moab’s iconic red rocks and along the Colorado River.
    — The Salt Lake Tribune, 14 Aug. 2023
  • One such challenge was how to write a villain who feels unique when set against a long lineup of the studio’s vintage baddies.
    — Michael Cavna, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2023
  • All of this is set against the stone-silent beauty of Hedwig’s backyard garden, an Eden blooming with phlox, dahlia and roses.
    — Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024
  • In the small linocut, three fishermen are poised before a rushing stream, set against a deep yellow ground giving way to creamy whites.
    — Angelica Aboulhosn, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Aug. 2023
  • The flag of North Korea features a red star within a white circle set against a wide red stripe, bordered by thinner white and blue stripes.
    — Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 17 Oct. 2024
  • But amid dissatisfaction with the economy, the mood for change seemed set against Bush.
    — Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 24 July 2024
  • The prospect of rising production is set against a backdrop of soft demand in China, the world’s largest crude importer and second-largest consumer.
    — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 26 Sep. 2024

Some of 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.

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