works against

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "works against" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is counterproductive or hinders progress towards a goal. Example: "The new policy works against our efforts to improve employee morale."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

That works against women.

The New York Times

His age works against him.

The New York Times - Sports

Sometimes Yahoo works against itself.

The New Yorker

(The script works against him, too).

The New York Times

Caan's proposal works against human nature.

Independent

But here it works against emotional engagement.

The New York Times

But the process works against itself.

The New Yorker

Political reality, however, works against this.

The Economist

Sometimes that works against you.

The New York Times - Sports

Only relative inexperience works against him.

The Guardian - Opinion

An insidious paradox works against understanding dementia.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "works against", ensure the subject clearly identifies what is being hindered or opposed. This provides clarity and strengthens the sentence's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "works against" with an unclear subject. Ensure the sentence explicitly states what the action or factor is that's hindering progress or being counterproductive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "works against" functions as a verb phrase indicating opposition or hindrance. It describes how something actively obstructs or undermines a particular outcome or goal, as seen in Ludwig's examples like "The script works against him, too."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

7%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "works against" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe how something actively hinders or opposes a particular goal or process. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. Alternatives such as ""undermines"", ""hinders"", and ""is detrimental to"" offer similar meanings but with slightly different nuances. When using "works against", ensure clarity by explicitly stating what is being hindered and avoid vague subjects. Overall, this phrase is a valuable tool for expressing opposition and highlighting obstacles in various forms of writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Goes against

This is a more informal way of saying something opposes or contradicts something else.

Hinders

This emphasizes the obstruction or delay of progress, focusing on the preventative aspect.

Counteracts

This term denotes acting against something to reduce its force or neutralize it, highlighting a direct opposing action.

Impedes

This suggests a more significant obstruction, making progress difficult.

Is detrimental to

This emphasizes the harmful or damaging effect something has on another thing.

Conflicts with

This highlights incompatibility or opposition between two things, focusing on their inherent differences.

Undermines

This alternative indicates a weakening or subversion of something, suggesting a gradual negative impact.

Runs counter to

This suggests opposition to a prevailing trend or accepted idea, emphasizing divergence.

Thwarts

This indicates the prevention of someone's plans or efforts from succeeding, suggesting a deliberate action.

Sabotages

This implies a deliberate act of destruction or obstruction, often secret or underhanded.

FAQs

How can I use "works against" in a sentence?

You can use "works against" to describe something that hinders or undermines an effort or goal. For example, "The new policy "works against" our efforts to improve employee morale."

What are some alternatives to "works against"?

Alternatives to "works against" include "undermines", "counteracts", "hinders", or "is detrimental to". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "works against" or "is against"?

"Works against" implies an active or functional opposition, suggesting something is actively hindering progress. "Is against" simply indicates disagreement or disapproval, but not necessarily active obstruction. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize active hindrance or simple opposition.

What is the difference between "works against" and "is counterproductive"?

"Works against" describes something that hinders progress towards a specific goal. "Is counterproductive" means that something has the opposite of the intended effect. While similar, "is counterproductive" focuses on the outcome being opposite to the intention, whereas ""works against"" focuses on hindering progress.