set one's face against

verb

To oppose strenuously; to determine not to do or accept.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

verbset one's face against (third-person singular simple present sets one's face against, present participle setting one's face against, simple past and past participle set one's face against)

present singular third person sets one's face against · participle present setting one's face against

  1. UKTo oppose strenuously; to determine not to do or accept.

    As these gatherings generally ended in drunkenness and rough and dangerous fun, the ministers set their faces against the observance, and were seconded in their efforts by the more intelligent and well-behaved in the community.

    1911, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, volume 10, page 232

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
oppose
Cite this entry
APA

set one's face against. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/set%20one's%20face%20against

MLA

“set one's face against.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/set%20one's%20face%20against. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “set one's face against,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/set%20one's%20face%20against.

Source: set one's face against on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.