up against it

ADJECTIVE

desperate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

despondent forlorn futile sad vain

STRONG

downcast goner

WEAK

at end of one's rope back to the wall can't win dead duck despairing desponding gone hard up in the soup in the toilet inconsolable irrecoverable irremediable irretrievable no chance no-win running out of time sunk up the creek useless wretched

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cheerful happy hopeful joyful

WEAK

calm confident content contented satisfactory satisfied secure unworried

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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up against it

West Ham were always up against it going in Sunday's final game against Leeds in which they needed to win and hope Everton won at Tottenham if they were to stay up.

From BBC ● May 24, 2026

Adora is up against it with those lessons.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026

But it wasn’t investing, it was gambling, and potent social forces were lined up against it, including Wall Street.

From Barron's ● Apr. 7, 2026

It’s also difficult to gauge how many of Iran’s 93 million people despise the government enough to rise up against it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 3, 2026

Just as Dr. Packard was closing the door, Stella pressed her hand up against it.

From "Stella by Starlight" by Sharon M. Draper

up against it

Example Sentences

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