Synonyms of set

set 1 of 3

verb

ˈset 

1

as in to sit

to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop

the hen set for days

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sit
• spawn
• lay
• hatch
• incubate
• brood

2

as in to choose

to decide upon (the time or date for an event) usually from a position of authority

set a date for the wedding

Synonyms & Similar Words

• choose
• pick
• select
• designate
• appoint
• name
• establish
• specify
• arrange
• announce
• determine
• fix
• adopt
• assign
• coordinate
• prefer
• settle
• declare
• publish
• orchestrate
• pin (down)
• advertise
• opt (for)
• single (out)

3

as in to estimate

to make an approximate or tentative judgment regarding

fire losses were set at a million dollars

Synonyms & Similar Words

• estimate
• value
• assess
• evaluate
• rate
• appraise
• analyze
• guesstimate
• valuate
• determine
• discover
• ascertain
• deem
• learn
• test
• judge
• decide
• adjudge
• price
• prize
• reassess
• reevaluate
• survey
• reappraise
• assay
• settle
• revalue
• underestimate
• rejudge
• misjudge
• transvaluate
• undervalue
• transvalue
• misesteem
• misprize

4

as in to lounge

chiefly dialect to rest on the buttocks or haunches

come over and set for a spell

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sit
• lounge
• perch
• squat
• straddle
• slouch
• sprawl

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stand
• rise
• arise
• get up

5

as in to aim

to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal

determined to see the West, she set her car towards the sun and drove off

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aim
• cast
• hold
• direct
• train
• head
• bend
• steer
• pinpoint
• focus
• level
• sight
• face
• concentrate
• bear
• orient
• incline

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• curve
• avert
• deflect
• divert
• shunt
• detour
• sidetrack
• rechannel

6

as in to decide

to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of

finally set some plans for the luncheon

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decide
• arrange
• choose
• complete
• resolve
• agree (on)
• figure
• plan
• settle
• fix
• dispose of
• design
• determine
• finalize
• finish
• chart
• shape
• scheme
• promise
• blueprint
• calculate
• conclude
• confirm
• program
• pledge
• concert
• approve
• work out
• lay out
• frame
• maneuver
• opt
• deal
• draft
• close
• contract
• authorize
• end
• affirm
• programme
• negotiate
• sanction
• okay
• hammer out
• schematize
• warrant
• map (out)
• wind up
• bargain
• wrap up
• clear
• OK
• intrigue
• square away
• round (off or out)
• haggle
• horse-trade
• chaffer
• dicker

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• call
• recall
• drop
• revoke
• rescind
• repeal
• differ (over)
• disagree (with)
• object
• resist
• counter
• oppose
• call off
• abort
• protest
• debate
• contest
• dispute

7

as in to secure

to put securely in place or in a desired position

had the jeweler set the diamond again

Synonyms & Similar Words

• secure
• fasten
• clamp
• catch
• hitch
• anchor
• fix
• moor
• stuff
• embed
• wedge
• imbed
• entrench
• lodge
• implant
• engrain
• intrench
• ingrain

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loosen
• loose
• pull
• extract
• unfasten
• prize
• tear (out)
• pry
• unloose
• uproot
• yank
• unloosen
• wrest
• unfix
• root (out)

8

as in to freeze

to turn from a liquid into a substance resembling jelly

the gelatin is just starting to set now

Synonyms & Similar Words

• freeze
• gel
• stiffen
• coagulate
• clump
• congeal
• jell
• gelate
• gelatinize
• jelly
• concrete
• cake
• solidify
• clot
• fix
• harden
• condense
• firm (up)
• thicken
• indurate
• lump (up)
• gum
• curd
• curdle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• melt
• fuse
• thaw
• liquefy
• flux
• liquify
• deliquesce

9

as in to put

to arrange something in a certain spot or position

set a book on the table

Synonyms & Similar Words

• put
• situate
• place
• position
• locate
• lay
• stick
• deposit
• dispose
• set up
• fix
• depose
• establish
• park
• emplace
• plant
• move
• shift
• lock
• rearrange
• orient
• assemble
• reorder
• slap
• collect
• carry
• clap
• niche
• plump
• settle
• plop
• affix
• plunk
• flop
• anchor
• array
• plunk down
• wedge
• lay out
• rank
• plank
• ensconce
• line up
• plonk
• set down
• lodge
• queue
• berth

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• remove
• take
• relocate
• replace
• supersede
• displace
• banish
• supplant
• dislodge

10

as in to harden

to become physically firm or solid

the concrete must set completely before anyone can walk on it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• freeze
• harden
• stiffen
• solidify
• concrete
• firm (up)
• congeal
• indurate
• incrust
• crystalize
• crystallize
• cake
• gel
• encrust
• thicken
• coagulate
• gelatinize
• gelate
• rigidify
• callus
• jell
• petrify
• ossify
• temper
• calcify
• anneal
• jelly
• clot
• case-harden

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• soften
• liquefy
• melt
• dissolve
• fuse
• thaw
• liquify
• smelt
• flux
• unfreeze
• deliquesce

set

2 of 3

noun

1

as in faction

a group of people acting together within a larger group

the younger set is less likely to volunteer for the church's annual rummage sale

Synonyms & Similar Words

• faction
• party
• side
• wing
• team
• coalition
• sect
• block
• bloc
• body
• split
• movement
• crew
• pack
• denomination
• gang
• splinter
• caucus
• persuasion
• schism
• scission

2

as in pack

a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially

they rarely associate with anyone outside their social set

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pack
• crowd
• bunch
• network
• community
• circle
• clique
• gang
• fold
• clan
• ring
• body
• club
• organization
• coven
• lot
• coterie
• commune
• tribe
• camp
• guild
• society
• closed shop
• faction
• college
• galère
• klatch
• league
• squad
• elite
• fraternity
• side
• klatsch
• in-group
• order
• charmed circle
• sect
• coalition
• mess
• gild
• sorority
• brotherhood
• union
• fellowship
• bloc
• federation
• alliance
• sisterhood
• council
• confederation
• congress
• sodality

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• individualist
• loner

3

as in cluster

a number of things considered as a unit

a set of tools

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cluster
• batch
• collection
• array
• bunch
• group
• grouping
• package
• assemblage
• lot
• constellation
• series
• clump
• block
• assortment
• battery
• bank
• suite
• band
• mixture
• variety
• clutch
• muster
• huddle
• parcel
• accumulation
• aggregate
• the whole kit and caboodle
• jumble
• knot
• clot
• aggregation
• passel
• conglomeration
• suit
• run
• cycle
• hodgepodge
• agglomeration
• odds and ends
• sundries
• miscellany

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unit
• item
• entity
• single

4

as in type

one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic

the next set of job applicants had far more education and practical experience

Synonyms & Similar Words

• type
• kind
• category
• group
• sort
• tier
• classification
• family
• class
• bracket
• order
• section
• variety
• generation
• species
• rank(s)
• genus
• league
• rubric
• grade
• breed
• division
• description
• race
• subdivision
• subgroup
• manner
• kidney
• heading
• specialty
• label
• feather
• branch
• nature
• subclass
• like
• title
• subspecies
• ilk
• speciality

5

as in scenery

the array of painted backgrounds and furnishings used to establish the setting in a stage production

built sets for the play

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scenery
• decor
• scene
• décor
• backdrop
• mise-en-scène
• property
• background
• set piece
• drop
• prop

set

3 of 3

adjective

1

as in go

being in a state of fitness for some experience or action

we're all set to go

Synonyms & Similar Words

• go
• ready
• prepared
• fit
• ripe
• armed
• conditioned
• primed
• qualified
• braced
• fortified
• trained
• steeled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unprepared
• unready
• underprepared
• unqualified
• half-cocked
• untrained
• half-baked
• flat-footed

2

as in stuck

firmly positioned in place and difficult to dislodge

that rock is really set in the hillside

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stuck
• jammed
• tight
• glued
• frozen
• embedded
• lodged
• firm
• wedged
• clamped
• attached
• bound
• fast
• anchored
• snug
• cemented
• secured
• bonded
• fastened
• entrenched
• implanted
• impacted
• imbedded
• immovable
• intrenched
• unyielding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loose
• insecure
• detached
• movable
• unbound
• freed
• unsecured
• undone
• unattached
• moveable
• yielding
• loosened
• dislodged
• unfastened

3

as in determined

fully committed to achieving a goal

set on being the first in her family to graduate from college

Synonyms & Similar Words

• determined
• intent
• resolute
• out
• bound
• decisive
• resolved
• firm
• positive
• confident
• bent (on or upon)
• do-or-die
• purposeful
• single-minded
• adamant
• serious
• certain
• hell-bent (on or upon)
• sure
• on one's mettle
• hardened
• persistent
• earnest
• steady
• vehement
• willful
• unswerving
• stubborn
• cocksure
• unwavering
• rigid
• bitter
• unfaltering
• unbending
• immovable
• unhesitating
• uncompromising
• wilful
• hard
• unrelenting
• implacable
• adamantine
• dogged
• unyielding
• tenacious
• headstrong
• inflexible
• pigheaded
• obdurate
• hardheaded
• mulish
• perverse
• pertinacious
• self-willed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unresolved
• hesitant
• undetermined
• faltering
• uncertain
• unsure
• irresolute
• indecisive
• doubtful
• reluctant
• skeptical
• wavering
• dubious
• suspicious
• unconvinced
• undecided
• vacillating
• unsettled
• loath
• distrustful
• mistrustful
• weak-kneed
• loth
• indisposed
• loathe
• disinclined

4

as in certain

having been established and usually not subject to change

the library is only open during set hours

Synonyms & Similar Words

• certain
• stable
• final
• fixed
• settled
• unchanging
• determinate
• flat
• firm
• frozen
• unchangeable
• hard
• steady
• constant
• hard-and-fast
• specific
• uniform
• definite
• explicit
• inexpugnable
• stipulated
• exact
• good
• stated
• given
• sure
• solid
• responsible
• true
• nonadjustable
• reliable
• nonnegotiable
• safe
• unwavering
• dependable
• tried
• noncancelable
• trustworthy
• trusty
• tried-and-true

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adjustable
• negotiable
• changeable
• variable
• unspecified
• indefinite
• uncertain
• volatile
• fluid
• unpredictable
• unstable
• open-ended
• fluctuating
• capricious
• mercurial
• mutable
• temperamental
• unsettled
• inconstant
• unsteady
• changeful
• flickery

5

as in specific

of a particular or exact sort

international law has set rules for the treatment of prisoners of war

Synonyms & Similar Words

• specific
• special
• precise
• sole
• distinct
• express
• concrete
• only
• single
• specialized
• separate
• peculiar
• distinctive
• limited
• individual
• unique
• especial
• solitary
• exclusive
• restricted
• lone
• specified
• given
• differentiated

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nonspecific
• general
• generic
• universal
• generalized
• nonexclusive

6

as in deliberate

made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing

it was not my set purpose to cause trouble for anyone

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deliberate
• intended
• conscious
• voluntary
• willed
• intentional
• planned
• wilful
• knowing
• willful
• calculated
• purposeful
• designed
• purposive
• weighed
• considered
• witting
• reasoned
• optional
• advised
• measured
• studied
• thoughtful
• volunteer
• premeditated
• elective
• discretionary
• prepense
• premeditative

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• chance
• random
• inadvertent
• unwitting
• incidental
• accidental
• unintentional
• necessary
• haphazard
• sudden
• nondeliberate
• required
• mandatory
• ordered
• forced
• aimless
• desultory
• abrupt
• compulsory
• impetuous
• obligatory
• purposeless
• nonpurposive
• hit-or-miss
• involuntary
• casual
• spontaneous
• impromptu
• instinctive
• impulsive
• extemporaneous
• coerced
• nonelective
• unforced
• unpremeditated

Examples of set in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

This willingness or compulsion to present claims that are utterly counterfactual has set Trump apart from conventional candidates. —Ron Elving, NPR, 14 Sep. 2024

Two years ago, Arizona set a new national standard by making every child eligible for a K–12 Empowerment Scholarship Account to support his or her private or home-based education. —Matt Beienburg, National Review, 14 Sep. 2024

Noun

However, a set of universal tariffs would mark an unprecedented use of the 1977 law. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2024

Completing the makeover is a set of 20-inch wheels wrapped in 38-inch all-terrain tires. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2024

Adjective

After a set period, the alert also unlocks the doors and rolls down the windows to keep occupants from overheating. —Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 8 Sep. 2024

The automated assembly system disperses a set amount of each ingredient in an order. —Kate Gibson, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2024

Phrases Containing set

• set (something) straight
• set about
• set apart
• set aside
• set at
• set by
• set down
• set eyes on
• set foot in
• set forth
• set in
• set off
• set on
• set one's heart on
• set one's teeth on edge
• set out
• set store by
• set store on
• set up
• set upon