turn against
phrasal verb
turned against; turning against; turns against
1
: to stop supporting or being friendly to (someone or something)
The senator eventually turned against the war.
She turned against her best friend.
2
: to cause (someone) to stop being friendly toward (someone)
He tried to turn our friends against us.
3
: to use (something) in a way that harms or discredits (someone)
Her political opponent tried to turn her many years of experience in Washington against her.
Examples of turn against in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
However, that’s not easy and in many cases simply not doable when the entire market turns against you.
—
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2025
Another risk for Apple, Google, Oracle and other firms backing TikTok: The possibility of Trump later turning against the video app and then trying to use the law in retaliation.
—Bobby Allyn, NPR, 20 Jan. 2025
With the holiday rapidly approaching and no apparent truce in the works, public opinion began to turn against the notion.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Dec. 2024
Successful couples show a 20 to one ratio, with 20 bids of turning towards for every negative bid of turning against or away.
—Michael Alcée, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for turn against 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2025
Another risk for Apple, Google, Oracle and other firms backing TikTok: The possibility of Trump later turning against the video app and then trying to use the law in retaliation.
—Bobby Allyn, NPR, 20 Jan. 2025
With the holiday rapidly approaching and no apparent truce in the works, public opinion began to turn against the notion.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Dec. 2024
Successful couples show a 20 to one ratio, with 20 bids of turning towards for every negative bid of turning against or away.
—Michael Alcée, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for turn against
Dictionary Entries Near turn against
Cite this Entry
“Turn against.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turn%20against. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share