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

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They are considered a form of resistance training because the movement causes your abdominal muscles to work against the resistance of gravity and your own body weight, explains DJ McDonough, PhD, MS, a cardiovascular disease researcher at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health. Daryl Austin, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025 Trump also criticized the firm for its diversity initiatives and for taking on clients that work against the Administration’s agenda. Chad De Guzman, Time, 28 Mar. 2025 That could work against the idea of a prolonged tariff, especially given Americans’ sensitivity to high healthcare costs. Brett Owens, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025 Meanwhile, Visentin will work against Turner to find move-in ready properties for the homeowners to relocate to. Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for work against (someone)

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Cite this Entry

“Work against (someone).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/work%20against%20%28someone%29. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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