plural set-tos
: a usually brief and vigorous fight or debate
set to; setting to; sets to
Examples of set-to in a Sentence
Noun
they had a brief set-to about money, but they seem to have resolved it
Recent Examples on the Web
Reed Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2023
His truest, ugliest self tends to emerge in his increasingly frequent set-tos with Linda, whose impatience with his documentary persona gradually wears through even her considerable acting ability.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 Sep. 2023
Shashwat Chauhan, USA Today, 8 July 2025
Construction began this week on the neighborhood’s show home, which is set to be complete by mid-October, and five other houses are expected to be built by December.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for set-to
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Noun
Into this unholy mess blunders Juan (Juan Amador), bearing the gushing stigmata of a violent set-to in a Sacramento bar.
—Reed Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2023
His truest, ugliest self tends to emerge in his increasingly frequent set-tos with Linda, whose impatience with his documentary persona gradually wears through even her considerable acting ability.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 Sep. 2023
Verb
Traders are set to make about $1.4 billion in paper profits from their short positions in Tesla TSLA.O shares on Monday after CEO Elon Musk's plans to launch a new U.S. political party heightened concerns about his commitment to the company's future.
—Shashwat Chauhan, USA Today, 8 July 2025
Construction began this week on the neighborhood’s show home, which is set to be complete by mid-October, and five other houses are expected to be built by December.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for set-to
Cite this Entry
“Set-to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/set-to. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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