RUNNING AGAINST Synonyms: 21 Similar Words

running against

phrase

present participle of run against

as in finding

to come upon unexpectedly or by chance It surprised her that she ran against some resistance when she presented her plan for the company.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of running against Tlaib, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, will appear alongside fellow socialists Oliver Larkin, who is challenging Moskowitz, and Elijah Manley, who is running against Wasserman Schultz. — Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 13 Aug. 2026 Our executive producers are running against the clock trying to get all the moving pieces. — Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 Berman, a Democrat, is running against Lorenzo Santos from Racine and Miguel Aranda from Whitewater in the Democratic primary for Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District. — Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Meanwhile, James is running against businessman Perry Johnson in the primary election in the gubernatorial race, while Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson are running in the Democratic primary. — Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026 Rick Jackson isn’t just running against Democratic nominee for governor Keisha Lance Bottoms. — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 29 July 2026 In Collins, Jackson is running against one of the most senior Republican incumbents in the Senate. — Elena Moore, NPR, 25 July 2026 There is arguably no greater example of the players’ power than in 2020 when members of the Atlanta Dream wore T-shirts endorsing then-Democratic candidate Raphael Warnock who at the time was running against Loeffler. — Annie Costabile, New York Times, 24 July 2026 The film will be among the 20 titles competing at the festival, running against other major motion pictures. — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 23 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for running against

Phrase

Charging documents said both suspects were then seen on video running into a nearby home before eventually escaping through the back of the house.

— Adam Thompson, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
The president’s rosy view is running into anxiety about the cost of living and fallout from the war in Iran.

— Josh Wingrove, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of running into

Phrase

Clark actually received an eighth after accidentally bumping into an official, but the league later rescinded it.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2026
The motorcycle continued moving down the ramp, bumping into the guard rail and stopping on the exit ramp, law enforcement recorded.

— Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026

Definition of bumping into

Browse Nearby Words

running after

running against

running along

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Running against.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/running%20against. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of running against

phrase

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

oxymoron

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes