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
After enduring storms, sickness and a shipwreck, the surviving crew members of HMS Wager turn against each other.
—
Becky Meloan, Washington Post, 19 June 2024
Trump turned against Good because Good endorsed Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) to become the party’s presidential nominee last year, angering the former president.
—Cami Mondeaux, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 19 June 2024
Putin has embraced North Korea because Kim’s militant, anti-Western outlook is something that chimes well with his own turn against the West and against democracy.
—Sergey Radchenko, NPR, 19 June 2024
But the tide has turned against the McCracken theory.
—Constance Grady, Vox, 18 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for turn against 
Becky Meloan, Washington Post, 19 June 2024
Trump turned against Good because Good endorsed Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) to become the party’s presidential nominee last year, angering the former president.
—Cami Mondeaux, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 19 June 2024
Putin has embraced North Korea because Kim’s militant, anti-Western outlook is something that chimes well with his own turn against the West and against democracy.
—Sergey Radchenko, NPR, 19 June 2024
But the tide has turned against the McCracken theory.
—Constance Grady, Vox, 18 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for turn against
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'turn against.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 7 Jul. 2024.
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