How to Use against in a Sentence

against

preposition
  • Touching the ball with your hands is against the rules.
  • There's a law against doing that.
  • Some people were for the proposal but others were against it.
  • She voted against the proposal.
  • He spoke against appeasing the enemy.
  • We must continue the struggle for justice and against injustice.
  • But that wasn’t the case against the Heat.
    — Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Two shots at it against the best closer in the game.
    — Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026
  • Don't swim against the current.
    — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Four weeks later, the charges against him were dropped.
    — Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Over decades, those costs compound against savers.
    — Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
  • Overlaps for fun but can hold his own against the best wingers, too.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Three of those five-set wins are against Sinner.
    — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Even some Democrats have railed against the status quo.
    — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
  • Not the suicidal wings of a moth against flame.
    — Ellen Bass, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • Out there playing against him was super cool.
    — Ren Clayton, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
  • This isn’t an argument against your plan, per se.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
  • It's caused by fat pushing against bands under the skin.
    — Rena Goldman, Health, 28 June 2026
  • These are the pitfalls our experts warn against.
    — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 10 Jan. 2026
  • The union withdrew its lawsuit against the state.
    — Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025
  • But nine-run innings, against the reigning champs?
    — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The man reaches down and brings his forearm against the ridge of your dad’s brow.
    — Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Set against that, one clear benefit.
    — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
  • Time was of the essence, but the attackers, too, had been up against the clock.
    — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Both of Torres' homers have come against the Reds.
    — ABC News, 7 June 2026
  • The fabric feels cool against my skin and never sticks or clings, even on warmer nights.
    — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
  • She's denied the charges against her, per The Times.
    — Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026
  • The man pushes down, and your dad turns his face to avoid crushing his nose against the mat.
    — Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
  • And a lot of people are against it, but yet there are a lot of people that just want it.
    — Sooji Nam, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Nana and the boys were leaning against the railing as a fin whale exhaled.
    — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 17 May 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word '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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