agree against

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "agree against" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not typically used in standard English, as "agree" usually implies a consensus or alignment rather than opposition. Example: "I cannot agree against the proposal, as it aligns with our goals."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Only younger viewers, those under 24, are more sympathetic to the idea that entertainment is more important than telling the truth: 46% agree, against 54% who do not.

The Guardian

Asked if it is the job of government to make "sure that every family has a decent basic minimum income" three-quarters of Britons, 74%, agree, against just 16% who believe this should not be the state's concern.

The Guardian

Most physicians and researchers would agree against using short course (<3 days) of high dose (>400 mg per day of hydrocortisone or equivalent) in sepsis [4].

Annals of Intensive Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

He is keen to leave Downing Street for Scotland immediately, but his supporters beg him to stay on a few more days and he agrees against his will.

The Guardian - Books

In short, hemmed in by fiscal and political constraints, Mr Valls may have less room for manoeuvre than he hoped which may be precisely why Mr Hollande agreed, against the odds, to give him the job.

The Economist

Barclays said that they would be honouring the term of the contract until August 2015, and in a joint statement the bank and TfL claimed that they had mutually agreed against "an option to extend".

The Guardian

All discrepant (the 2 techs disagreed) or monomorphic (the 2 techs agreed against the consensus calls) sites were manually confirmed by visual inspection in Integrative Genomic Viewer (IGV) [ 25].

BMC Genomics

I wholeheartedly agree with "Against an Island Income Tax," by Joseph L. Andretta (Op-Ed, July 16).

The New York Times

The effects of pH on the IFTs of betaine solutions against model oils containing crude oil fractions agree with those against crude oil.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

Both McAfee and Cisco agree that defending against advanced persistent threats is difficult.

MIT Technology Review

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher came under heavy pressure at the conference to agree to sanctions against South Africa.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "agree against" in formal writing. Opt for clearer alternatives like "disagree with" or "oppose" to ensure your meaning is accurately conveyed.

Common error

The word "agree" typically denotes alignment or consensus. Avoid using "agree" when you intend to express disagreement. Using "disagree" or "oppose" will prevent misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "agree against" functions as a verb phrase intended to express disagreement or opposition. However, this construction is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is not typically used in standard English, as “agree” usually implies a consensus or alignment rather than opposition.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "agree against" appears in some sources, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms this, advising against its use in standard English. The intended meaning is typically to express disagreement or opposition. Therefore, it's best to use clearer and more accepted alternatives like "disagree with" or "oppose". Although it appears in both News & Media and Science contexts, its infrequent usage suggests it's not a common or preferred expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Disagree with

Expresses opposition or a difference of opinion.

Oppose

Indicates active resistance or antagonism towards something.

Be against

Conveys a position of being in opposition to something.

Dissent from

Signifies a formal or official disagreement.

Take issue with

Implies a challenge or questioning of a particular point or aspect.

Contradict

Indicates a direct opposition or inconsistency with something else.

Reject

Signifies a refusal to accept or agree with something.

Object to

Expresses disapproval or opposition.

Be in opposition to

Formally expresses being in a contrary position.

Challenge

Suggests questioning or disputing the validity of something.

FAQs

What does "agree against" mean?

The phrase "agree against" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's typically used to express disagreement or opposition, but it's clearer to use phrases like "disagree with" or "oppose" instead.

How can I express disagreement more clearly?

Instead of "agree against", use phrases such as "disagree with", "be against", or "object to" for better clarity.

Is "agree against" grammatically correct?

No, "agree against" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct way to express a conflicting opinion is to use phrases like "disagree with".

What's the difference between "agree with" and "agree against"?

"Agree with" signifies concurrence or alignment, while "agree against" is not a standard construction and should be replaced with phrases such as "disagree with" to accurately convey the intended meaning of opposition.